Chennai: DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Thursday responded immediately to PMK founder S. Ramadoss' request for support to his party's fight against the reopening of Tasmac shops along the state highways.
PMK had requested for the support of all Opposition parties including the DMK and popular actors in its fight against the reopening of Tasmac shops along state highways. Copies of letters written by Ramadoss were submitted by party spokesperson K. Baalu to Opposition leaders requesting them to raise their voice against the state government's reported move to convert state highways to district highways and reopen the Tasmac shops.
Immediately responding to Ramadoss' request, Stalin issued a statement demanding that the central and state governments should implement the Supreme Court's order to prevent road accidents and ensure people's safety instead of changing the category of highways and protecting the liquor vendors.
Citing the Supreme Court verdict to close all the liquor shops within 500 metres, Stalin said Tamil Nadu government is trying to open the shops from the other side of the road in violation of the SC order and people are protesting against the move.
Referring to the request of Ramadoss, the leader of Opposition said the letter of request had been sent through K. Baalu who played a big role for the SC verdict.
The PMK had requested Stalin to oppose the state government's move of circumventing the SC order, he said. He said the DMK had always been supporting prohibition and the DMK closed 1,300 liquor shops immediately after the request of Ramadoss in 2008.
The DMK had promised to introduce prohibition in the 2016 Assembly election manifesto. Stalin pointed out that both the central and state governments had accepted the SC verdict in principle, but trying to evade the order by convertring the category of roads.
PMK spokesperson also met AIADMK (PTA) treasurer O. Panneerselvam, CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan, TNCC president S. Thirunavukkarasar, actors Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth and submitted copies of the same letter. Copies of the letter were delivered at the offices or houses of BJP state president Tamilisai Soundarrajan, CPM state secretary G.Ramakrishnan, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, DK president K.Veeramani, World Tamils Forum leader P. Nedumaran and Naam Thamizhar Party chief co-ordinator P. Seeman.
