Sakshi TV carried a statement from Minister Gudivada Amarnath saying that the government will decrease the number of belt shops in phases.
This has come as a shock to everyone including YSR Congress supporters. Belt shops are illegal wine shops operated without a license. They are in addition to the government-allowed wine shops.
The private players who run the wine shops divert their stocks to their shops and mint money.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy always grandly claims of abolishing belt shops after coming to power.
Furthermore, all the wine shops in Andhra Pradesh are taken over by the Government.
If the minister says they will decrease the number of belt shops in phases, it means belt shops are running in Andhra Pradesh and that can not happen without the Government and those there in the government.
This controversial statement comes a day after another controversial statement by Amar saying that YSR Congress never promised prohibition.
