7th May 2010Hyderabad ToShri Gulam Nabi AzadUnion Minister of Health and Family WelfareSouth Avenue LaneNew Delhi Dear Shri Gulam Nabi Azad ji, We appreciate your recent efforts on Alcohol Consumption Control Policy in States and towards ensuring that the respective State Health Departments develop and implement the same. Such a policy becomes crucial as consumption of alcohol is ruining lakhs of households in the nation. As you are aware, liquor has become major source of revenue for many State governments. In Andhra Pradesh successive state governments have generated income through liquor license auctions, sales tax, excise duties and other such avenues unmindful of the ill-effects that consumption of liquor has caused in over 75 lakh households in the State. According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences for the World Health Organization; alcohol generates a revenue of Rs.21,600 crore while the losses caused by it in terms [...]

The Lok Satta Party today flayed the Andhra Pradesh Government for persisting with its policy of liquor auctions unmindful of the havoc liquor has played with the lives of nearly 75 lakh families in the State. When shops are auctioned to highest bidders, shop owners are forced to maximize their earnings by promoting and encouraging as many unauthorized outlets or belt shops as possible. A random survey by the Lok Satta has revealed that there are already 150,000 belt shops in the State. Talking to the media, Lok Satta Party leaders Mr.V.Laxman Balaji, Mr. P. Bhaskara Rao pointed out that the liquor has become the main source of revenue to the Andhra Pradesh Government. The State Government will be earning Rs.15000 crore in the Excise Year beginning on July 1 by way of license fees, excise and sales tax and other incidental charges. The Lok Satta leaders said the revenue the State Government generates by promoting liquor consumption is much more than what it spends on [...]

The Lok Satta Party today welcomed the Supreme Court in the Ambani brothers’ dispute over natural gas sharing and pricing. In a statement, Lok Satta Party leaders Mr. V. Laxman Balaji, Mr. P. Bahaskara Rao said the Supreme Court verdict upheld the sovereign right of the Government of India’s sovereign right on the pricing and utilization of natural gas. The Lok Satta leaders appealed to the Government of India to ensure that Andhra Pradesh’s gas needs are fully met.

6th May 2010 ToDr. IV Subba Rao, IASThe Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Andhra PradeshElection Commission of India (ECI)New ‘H’ Block South Wing, AP SecretariatHyderabad Sub: Run up to the AP Legislative Council elections – widespread corrupt electoral practices reported – reg. Dear Sir, We would like to bring to your attention several, recent and credible reports carried by the print and electronic media, of widespread instances of bribing of voters, exercising undue influence (esp. by bussing voters to ‘camps’ outside the State and holding them there) and other attempts at voter intimidation by traditional political parties, their candidates and leaders, in the run up to the upcoming elections to the AP Legislative Council. Such brazen attempts by candidates and their parties, as reported, at vote-buying and intimidation would surely act an undue influence on the voters’ electoral choice. Therefore they constitute nothing but corrupt electoral [...]

The Lok Satta Party today represented to the Election Commission of India to take cognizance of the corrupt electoral practices in the elections to the AP Legislative Council on May 7 and act swiftly and decisively to curb them. In a memorandum presented to Dr. I. V. Subba Rao, Chief Electoral Officer, Election Commission of India, Lok Satta leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao, V. Laxman Balaji, and P. Bhaskara Rao referred to reports of widespread instances of bribing of voters, bussing of voters to ‘camps’ outside the State and other attempts at intimidation. “Such brazen attempts constitute nothing but corrupt electoral practices under the Representation of the People Act.” The Lok Satta said that although vote buying through money and liquor has been a feature of elections, new depths were reached in elections to the Legislative Council in that such illegitimate expenses have already exceeded Rs.15 crore for one seat of the RR District local authorities’ constituency [...]