In democracy, anyone can question the government’s inaction. And sometimes, action too.
Not taking kindly to the state government’s crackdown on drunk drivers, a man raised a banner of revolt Telangana. Forty-five-year-old Gopal Reddy is a resident of Jangarayi village in Medak district, on the outskirts of Hyderabad. A farmer, who once dabbled in politics, Reddy is angry at the way Telangana police has been conducting checks right outside wine shops and permit rooms and registering cases against bike riders who are drunk.
With an intention to start a movement of like-minded people, he formed an organisation called Telangana Thaagubothula Sangham (drunkards association of Telangana). The group even staged a protest and created awareness about their demands last week.
So, what is their problem?
“The state government is encouraging us to drink by keeping the wine shops and their permit rooms open till 11 pm. We drink to forget our problems after a stressful day. As soon as we forget our miseries and venture out of the shop, the police is ready to harass us. If found drunk, they take away our licenses, mobile phones or vehicles. Is this right? On one side we waste our money and spoil our health to contribute to state revenue and what we get in return is punishment,” said Reddy.
Reddy is demanding that either the state government impose complete prohibition or stop police action against drunken drivers.
Instead of registering cases or snatching away documents, the police can take drunkards to the station and offer them a place to sleep till they are sober, this is one of the solutions that Reddy has put forward.
“The government wants to make sure that there are no accidents, right? Then make arrangements to safely transport people to their homes,” he advises, adding, “I want the government to act sensibly. How do they expect people in rural areas, most of who are farmers, to have drivers or cabs to go back home.”
Reddy does not want to go down merely as a man of words. He did his bit for his community. He has donated an ambulance with a driver for the benefit of people who drink. This ambulance is stationed outside a wine shop in his village and whoever wants to avail the service or get dropped, are free to do so.
According to Reddy, the response to his unique initiative has been tremendous.
“In the past, I gave a call to people to participate in protests when gas prices increased. Nobody came forward. I tried to do the same when petrol prices were hiked. The response was same. But ever since I started protesting against the government’s indifferent attitude towards people who drink, I have been receiving hundreds of calls from people who are pledging support to the cause. I even got a call from someone living in Delhi, who has invited me to start a similar movement there.”
Surely, this is a high-spirited movement.
