Chennai: The state unit of the BJP hit out at the “double standards” of the DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, especially his assertion to take steps to implement total prohibition in Tamil Nadu; and accused his party of lifting the ban while in power and “ruining generations.”
Now Kalaignar talks of imposing total prohibition if his party comes to power though he could not enforce it when he was at the helm of affairs in the state. He should first apologise for creating a society of chronic drinkers,” Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said reacting sharply to the DMK chief’s Monday night statement.
Wondering if Mr Karunanidhi’s demand for prohibition was linked to “polls or for the betterment of the people,” the BJP leader who is a doctor herself, said sarcastically that the senior leader’s statement though surprising and suspicious, is consoling in one way because atleast now he understood that liquor destroys society.
“We respect him as a senior leader but he had a major role making a society of chronic addicts. Nevertheless, his sudden realisation and support (for total prohibition in TN) is a consoling factor. Complete prohibition is possible only when all political parties support the move,” she said announced that her BJP would intensify the struggle demanding prohibition.
She also pointed out that on July 10 over 15,000 of her party members were arrested during a state-wide agitation pressing for total prohibition and earlier at the party’s executive committee meeting in Kumbakonam, the saffron party passed a resolution calling for initiatives to make TN a dry state.
Stalin Promises total prohibition of drinking in 2016
Attempting to silence critics casting aspersions on DMK president M. Karunanidhi’s promise to enforce prohibition, his son and party treasurer M. K. Stalin on Tuesday asserted that the party would definitely enforce “total prohibition” in 2016. Karunanidhi on Monday said, “DMK will make strenuous efforts to enforce prohibition if the party is voted back to power in 2016.”
His political opponents, who questioned the pun in the statement and promotion of TASMAC in the previous DMK regime, accused Karunanidhi of making the announcement keeping in mind the 2016 Assembly polls. Stalin described the latest promise as a ‘new chapter’ and said, “DMK will wipe the tears of Tamil women and create a bright future for the children and youngsters of Tamil Nadu.”
Referring to the various steps taken in the 2006-11 DMK regime during which the business hours of Tasmac was reduced to 10am-10pm and closure of 1,300 bars and 132 shops near temples and schools, Stalin alleged that Tasmac bars have outnumbered schools in the AIADMK regime.
“Public welfare is more important than the revenue netted from sale of liquor. This is the objective of the new chapter of the DMK,” Stalin said, adding, “There shall be no doubt. DMK will enforce total prohibition in 2016.” Later in the evening, when reporters asked him about the feasibility of enforcing total prohibition, which will deprive the state of huge revenue, Karunanidhi said, “We have to create it.”
