The mysterious deaths in Jangareddygudem in West Godavari districts in the last few days have come as a big opportunity to the Telugu Desam Party led by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu to target the ruling YSR Congress party led by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
While the TDP has been claiming that as many as 26 people died to consumption of adulterated liquor in Jangareddygudem, the YSRC has insisted that they were all normal deaths and the TDP is trying to politicise the deaths for its petty gains.
On Monday, the TDP members made a hue and cry in the assembly and got suspended from the House for their unruly behaviour. Losing no time, Naidu rushed to Jangareddygudem to put up a big show in the name of calling on the victims’ families.
Naidu alleged that it was only after Jagan Reddy brought in abnormally priced cheap liquor brands that lots of poor men were falling victim to illicit liquor.
He claimed that the families of the victims had complained to him that the deaths had occurred only after illicit liquor started flowing in their area.
He even handed Rs 1 lakh each to the bereaved families on behalf of the party and demanded that the government pay an ex gratia of Rs 1 crore to the victims' families.
On the other hand, the chief minister slammed the TDP for politicizing the Jangareddygudem deaths for their vested interests and said they should refrain from spreading false propaganda on illicit liquor.
He told the assembly that not all deaths had occurred at the same place in Jangareddygudem. As many as 18 deaths have been registered in the municipality.
“Every day, at least 90 people die naturally due to illness, old age, or accidents across the state. The TDP has been distorting the facts and politicizing the natural deaths,” he alleged.
He said manufacturing of illicit liquor had been there for several decades and it was still there in some places.
“That is the reason for setting up of special police force called the Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB). Orders were given to take stringent measures to curb illicit liquor in the state,” he said.
Earlier, making a statement over the tragedy, Deputy Chief Minister (Health) Alla Krishna Srinivas said he along with officials, on the direction of the Chief Minister, have visited the victims’ families in Jangareddygudem and directed to take necessary measures and TDP has been making baseless allegations for political mileage.
The minister flayed TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu for visiting Jangareddygudem only to politicize the deaths and questioned if the opposition leader has gone to console the victims or to show their strength.