AP women protest opening of liquor shop in residential areas

The women in the state of Andhra Pradesh intensified their protests to stop opening of wine shops in the residential areas. According to the recent directive of the Supreme Court of India, wine shops on National and State Highways are to be closed and should be moved 500 metres away from the highway.

However, the highways that pass through the municipalities and corporations are considered to be civic roads and roads outside the city, bypass and outer ring roads as Highways. But due to lack of proper coordination between R and B and Excise departments, the roads have yet to be denotified.

If following the directive of the Supreme Court, the wine shops have to move 500 metres away, they will be entering a residential area which is creating agitation among the residents. Women have been objecting on the grounds of  their and the children’s safety even during the day if the wine shops enter residential areas. These dharnas reached agitation stage and in one such protest women of Kaikalur protested by sitting on the roads and petitioning to the police.