Govt will not Encourage Belt Shops Under any Circumstances: Sridhar Babu

Hyderabad: Minister for IT and Industries Duddilla Sridhar Babu has emphasised that the Congress government will not support belt shops in Telangana under any circumstances.

During an Assembly session on Tuesday, the Minister expressed his dismay over the widespread liquor sales that took place during the BRS administration, noting that the BRS had a history of permitting liquor sales even in small grocery stores.

Sridhar Babu remarked that it was encouraging to hear BRS MLA Prashanth Reddy acknowledge in the Assembly that belt shops were established during the previous government’s term in Telangana.

He assured that the government would conduct operations within the Excise department without any corruption or irregularities.

Previously, BRS MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy questioned whether the State government's strategy involved the introduction of new brands, beers, and the establishment of new bars and pubs.

He accused the government of attempting to proliferate belt shops to boost revenue. Prashanth Reddy urged the government to repeal the current liquor policy and eliminate belt shops without delay.