MLA demands closure of wine shops

Visakhapatnam: Floor leader of BJP in the Assembly and Visakhapatnam North MLA P Vishnukumar Raju urged Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for shutdown of three wine shops and one bar and restaurant located in his constituency. The MLA met the Chief Minister on Sunday in the city and explained the pressure from the people of the respective areas for closure of the wine shops.

In fact, after the new licences were issued by the excise department, the residents of the respective areas are demanding for the closure of the new shops and bar at their respective areas. However, the department is not responding on the demand. In this backdrop, the MLA met the Chief Minister, who arrived in the city to participate in the regional conference on environment, and explained the demands of the people.

Earlier, MLA urged the excise department not to issue licences in eight locations in his constituency. However, not bothering about the request of the MLA, the department had issued licences in the objected areas also.

“In my constituency, there are 14 municipal divisions and there are 13 wine shops and 14 bar and restaurants. Ashoka Wines promised that after completion of the licence period, he will close the shop. But, notwithstanding his promise, he is again continuing the shop at the same place. The Monark Wines also violating the excise policy rules,” MLA Vishnukumar Raju explained to the Chief Minister.

MLA said that he would stage a dharna till the administration fulfil the demands of the people of the respective areas located in his constituency.