Goshamahal BJP MLA Raja Singh, who had made an open threat against the visit of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Hyderabad, hit headlines again after he threatened to resign in protest against Telangana government's action on the bootleggers of Dhoolpet. The government's ban on 'Gudumba', a cheap and spurious liquor, is reportedly affecting around 3,000 families in the locality.
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However, Raja Singh has decided not to quit after taking advice of the party's state president K. Laxman, who assured him that the entire party was behind the Dhoolpet issue.
Dhoolpet, which is famous for Ganesha idols (small to large statues of Lord Ganesha are made here during the Ganesha festival) and manjas (thread used for flying kites), has also gained notoriety for the illicit liquor.
The Telangana government had imposed a ban on the manufacture and sale of 'Gudumba', soon after it came to power. It had also announced rehabilitation of the families who would be afected by the ban, but till date no concrete measures have been implemented except for forming a committee with the district collector as chairman to examine the issue. Raja Singh is also a member of this panel.
According to the MLA, none in Dhoolpet wants to make illicit liquor now. They want an alternative livelihood where they can fetch at least Rs 200 to Rs 300 daily. He requested the government to establish a small scale industry for them.
