Wine shops with God names are not...

Vijayawada, July 7: The Andhra Pradesh state Excise Minister K.S. Jawahar has cleared that, There should be no liquor shops with names of gods like Venkateshwara wines, Ayyappa Wines etc.

He condemning the Opposition parties' comment that liquor business was the most important source of revenue for the State. He also claimed that stringent action was being taken against traders violating the norms related to licenses and belt shops.

He denied that the government had assigned targets and reiterated that permissions were not being given for opening liquor shops and bars in residential areas.

While speaking to media reporters at the Secretariat on Thursday, Mr. Jawahar said the Prohibition and Excise Department had received 13 complaints on the location of shops and bars in residential areas and 11 had been solved. People could bring their grievances directly to his notice by calling him on his mobile phone (no. 9951314101). Remedial action would be taken in 24 hours, he claimed.

Mr. Jawahar said, of the 4,367 liquor shops, fresh licenses were given to 2,351 and 245 bars out of 830 were given licenses so far. Cases were booked against 6,324 belt shops, 2,901 were arrested and 106 vehicles seized. MRP violations and mixing of brands were being viewed seriously, he said and appealed to the traders not to name their shops and bars after Gods.