(Image source from: Facebook.com/ysrcpofficial)

The Andhra Pradesh government is all set to order a CID probe into the liquor scam during the tenure of former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced this in the Assembly on Wednesday. On the same day he presented a White Paper on the liquor trade in the Assembly house. Chandrababu Naidu said that when criminals join politics, politicians also become criminals. He said we have seen what happens to the country when a criminal becomes prime minister. He said: If you read the seven white papers published by the current government, you will understand how much damage has been done to the country in the last five years. He said that Jagan Mohan Reddy had promised a complete ban on liquor and reduction in the number of outlets. But he did a lot to rob the state's liquor store, he said. He said Jagan Mohan Reddy had said that if the price of alcohol increased, people would stop drinking alcohol. He said prices have increased alarmingly compared to neighboring countries. However, alcohol sales have not declined.

Chandrababu Naidu said that sales of liquor have increased in the last five years. But the government's revenue has declined, he said. He said the increase in revenue went into the pockets of YSR Congress leaders. He said that the common liquor available in the country was not available in the state for the last five years. There are different brands of alcohol available in this state. The Prime Minister also said that the government has not given money to distilleries and some distilleries have not received new orders. He said: Five major brands and national brands were sent abroad. Local brands are sold in liquor stores, he said. He said the government forced them to buy every branded product in the stores. He further said that the government has allocated Rs 250 million from various departments to the tax department. He stressed the need for a review of the tax department. He said: The government will revise the alcoholic beverages policy and introduce a new alcoholic beverages policy. He promised to make popular brands available in the state. He sought the cooperation of the MLAs in formulating a new liquor policy. He also asked for suggestions for further investigation into this crime. He said: People who have committed crimes in the last five years will be severely punished. He also suggested that ministers should investigate corruption in their respective ministries.