Expressing his support for the cause of prohibition, he called upon the public to shun alcohol consumption
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss with social activist Swami Agnivesh at a rally in the city on Monday. (Photo: DC)
Chennai: Social activist Swami Agnivesh on Monday urged the Centre to revive the policy to financially compensate the state governments for enforcing prohibition policy. Addressing a demonstration organised by PMK here seeking prohibition in the state, he said that decades ago, the Centre had a proposal of compensating states that take up prohibition. He demanded that the Centre revive the old policy.
Expressing his support for the cause of prohibition, he called upon the public to shun alcohol consumption. “With about half a population of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu’s sale of alcoholic beverages is more (than Uttar Pradesh),” he said.
PMK chief ministerial candidate Dr Anbumani Ramadoss said the state was being ruined by consumption of liquor and urged the government to implement prohibition. “The state government should announce prohibition in Tamil Nadu and the announcement must be made in the Assembly during the ongoing session,” he told the gathering in which a large number of women volunteers also participated.
He said his party has been fighting for ending liquor sale and consumption since 1989 when the party was founded. “Tamil Nadu is the only state in India that sells liquor for its survival. It is shameful. They don’t just sell liquor. They enforce it,” Dr Anbumani said, assuring people that it would only change if PMK was voted to power.
“My first signature as chief minister will be enforce total prohibition in the state,” he reiterated. Continuing his attack on DMK, he said that five of the 11 liquor companies in the state were owned by DMK partymen.
“If at least these five companies are shut, there will be 50 per cent prohibition in the state. If DMK is serious about prohibition, they should demonstrate it by closing down liquor companies owned by their party men,” he said.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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