Chennai: Contrary to the trend of women protesting against the closure of Tasmac shops in the residential localities of Tamil Nadu, few men on Tuesday submitted a petition to the Kancheepuram district collector to open a closed wine shop.
Around 50 men from Ayanarkuppam near Kalpakkam at Thirukalukundram taluk have been protesting against a closed liquor shop in their locality since ten days.
The wine shop was closed by the district administration, after the women from 15 villages protested against its presence in the residential locality. The shop was replaced from a highway two months ago, after the Supreme Court’s direction.
Condemning the closure, Senthil Kumar, a contract employee said, “We have to travel for more than 15 km to Thirukalukundram to purchase the liquor. The number of accidents has increased due to the closure, as men drive back tipsy.” Senthil Kumar’s wife, had voiced against the wine shop at Ayanarkuppam.
After submitting their petition to the officials at the Kancheepuram district collectors’s office, they said, “We have been habituated to drinking. We cannot live without it. The closure of the shop has resulted in the rise of the black market where we pay almost double the price for a quarter. People are selling the liquor smuggled from Pondicherry.” They said that they would go on a road roko if the shop is not opened.
