The Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly on Monday witnessed a ruckus over death of 18 people under mysterious circumstances over the past few days in West Godavari district, leading to the suspension of five Telugu Desam Party legislators from the House for the duration of the budget session.
The deaths sparked off mud-slinging between the ruling YSR Congress and the main opposition TDP. While the opposition party alleged that the deaths were caused by consumption of illicit arrack, the government rubbished the claim and said the TDP was distorting even natural deaths.
The suspension was a culmination of acrimonious scenes the House as the principal opposition sought an immediate discussion on the alleged illicit arrack tragedy in West Godavari district.
The Speaker rejected the adjournment motion moved by the TDP and sought to take up regular business, which the opposition did not allow. The House was adjourned twice as there was no order for conduct of business.
The TDP MLAs were suspended when the proceedings resumed after the second adjournment and they continued with their protest.
Chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy claimed the deaths were natural. “The 18 deaths these people (TDP) are talking about did not happen at a single place. They were spread over Jangareddygudem municipality, which has a population of about 54,880 people. Assuming a death rate of two per cent, for various reasons, we have to remember that 60 persons die here every month,” the chief minister said.
{{/usCountry}}Chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy claimed the deaths were natural. “The 18 deaths these people (TDP) are talking about did not happen at a single place. They were spread over Jangareddygudem municipality, which has a population of about 54,880 people. Assuming a death rate of two per cent, for various reasons, we have to remember that 60 persons die here every month,” the chief minister said.
{{/usCountry}}“It was not right for the TDP to portray natural deaths as those caused by the illicit liquor,” Jagan said. He, however, admitted to illicit arrack-brewing is still on in the state, adding that it was the case even during the previous TDP regime.
The chief minister read out a list of the measures his government had taken in the past two years to curtail liquor consumption.
“We have no need to protect anyone brewing illicit liquor. We have established the Special Enforcement Bureau to crack down on such business. The SEB has so far registered 13,000 cases on illicit liquor,” he said.
Earlier, deputy chief minister (health) A K K Srinivas, who hails from West Godavari district, said some of the deceased were addicted to liquor.
“One person did not eat anything for a week while consuming liquor and died. His family members themselves revealed this. But still people are politicising this,” Srinivas alleged. The opposition and a section of the media were trying to create apprehension in people with false narratives, he said.
Meanwhile, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu visited Jangareddygudem and spoke to the families of the victims. While announcing an ex-gratia of ₹1 lakh each to the kin of the deceased, he demanded that the state government give ₹1 crore to each family.