The controversy surrounding the "liquor mafia issue", which received the attention of the Andhra Pradesh High Court too, has put the qualms on the ruling Congress. The major controversy not enough that it had put the Congress in an embarrassing situation, but also has embarked as a vindictive approach, as reported by a few involved. The Anti Corruption Bureau which has suddenly awakened to investigate the discrepancies claims to have seized substantial evidence against many Excise officials and some leading politicians. Sources fear that many Ministers in the ruling cabinet also could figure in the list.

The recent raids conducted by the ACB in Srikakulam, East Godavari, Kadapa, Kurnool, Nellore and Chittoor listed 2000 shops. But the shocking news is that of this over 1100 shops are held by people who possessed White Ration Cards ideally issued by the Government to people living below the poverty line. That simply means more than 50 percent and how the scales will tilt when the whole state is checked for discrepancies in this issue. Alarming!!!

So how did these people get access to such shops and how could they pull up finances for such ventures. If so why were they living still in those dilapidated conditions. But the larger controversy that looms over this issue in particular is at least do these people know that they were own the shop. All these questions need be answered only by the concerned. If all these are over the last big missile is who is running the racquet and how benami’s will be dealt.

Too many questions as this particular case is concerned and I suppose this is the only major case in the country which needs the testimony of so many people. As the trade has too many participants on the whole. Can this mammoth exercise be completed, if so how long. The critics are posing the various questions that are running in the minds of the common man, who has no way to vent his feeling. (With inputs from internet: AarKay)