Chennai: Stepping up its demand for total prohibition in Tamil Nadu, the BJP has asked the state government to phase out liquor sale through Tasmac by enacting legislation and directing the closure of the Tasmac outlets near religious places of worship and educational institutions immediately; and ensure complete prohibition by mid-February next year.
The saffron party, which has been waging a battle for years demanding total prohibition in Tamil Nadu until other political parties including the DMK decided to ride the anti-liquor wave, recently, also advised certain party leaders to first ask their party members to give up drinking before demanding a liquor-free state.
“The government should understand the gravity of the situation and immediately announce a policy to close down Tasmac outlets across the state. Initially, legislation could be passed to wind up the outlets near religious places of worship, schools and residential areas and ensure complete prohibition by Febaury 15,” says Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan.
Condemning the police action on anti-liquor protesters in Kalingapatti led by MDMK chief Vaiko, earlier in the day, Mr Radhakrishnan said it was distressing that the police targeted the protesters. “But at the same time violence under the pretext of agitation is unacceptable,” he added.
“It's is saddening that brother Vaiko’s party members were beaten up by police who should have exercised restraint,” Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, BJP state president said.
Lashing out at certain political parties that wanted to ride the anti-liquor wave and reap political gains, Dr Tamilisai asked the leaders to first advise their party men to stop drinking before voicing the concern of the people. “Whether it was our Tiruchy conference addressed by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi (before the Lok Sabha elections) or our recent state executive meeting in Tiruppur, the Tasmac shops registered zero sales. Our party cadres are disciplined and women attend our rallies in large numbers,” she said with pride.
Govt duty to bring in prohibition: Chakravarthy
"The BJP was the first party to launch the agitation to end the social evil. It is very sad that even young women have taken to drinks... Like banning smoking in public places, enforcing complete prohibition is government's duty," says M. Chakravarthy, BJP state vice president.
“Our party had been staging agitations and mobilising the support of women, who have been the worst affected and we succeeded in getting a few shops closed in the city,’ Vanathi Srinivasan BJP state vice president.
Before the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the party had staged the “Save Mangalsutra (Thali) Lotus agitation" in Perundurai in Erode district and in 2011 the party had organised a massive “Silamboli Porattam – agitation demanding justice for women affected by the social evil, in Nagercoil.
