T Harish Rao, senior leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and former minister, strongly criticized the Congress government in Telangana for sharply increasing liquor prices. He accused the ruling party of breaking its election promises and neglecting the welfare of the people.
Rao questioned the priorities of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, asking if the state would now be run through “beers and bars” while governance takes a backseat. He said the Excise Department seems to be the only one working efficiently, highlighting the government’s focus on raising revenue through alcohol sales instead of public welfare.
“Is this what you meant by ‘Telangana Rising’? First, you hiked beer prices by 15%, and now you’ve raised liquor prices too. You’re putting more pressure on people instead of helping them,” Rao stated.
He reminded the Congress that it had promised to shut down illegal belt shops and reform the excise policy during its campaign. However, instead of keeping those promises, the government is now promoting liquor consumption. Rao condemned the idea of building micro-breweries every 30 kilometers, warning that such steps could harm young people and destroy families.
According to Rao, the Congress made big promises before the elections, but after winning, it stopped several welfare programs and failed to fulfill its commitments. “How long will this government continue to burden the public and damage the future of Telangana?” he asked.
Rao’s remarks reflect growing tension between the BRS and the ruling Congress, especially on issues affecting the daily lives of the people. He urged the government to stop exploiting citizens and start focusing on real development.
