Chennai: After their plea for closure of the Tasmac shop near their school fell on deaf ears, around 10 students from MGR Nagar in Chennai submitted a petition to Lord Ganesha on Tuesday to close the liquor shop.
Their prayer to 17 ft Siddhi Buddhi Shakthi Vinayagar statue erected near MGR Nagar market is to close Tasmac shop number 630 near Chennai School on Lake View Street, Nesappakkam.
R.Mugilan, a class 9 student from Government Higher Secondary School in MGR Nagar, said, “Many school students are getting addicted to alcohol. Students are also facing many problems due to drunkards roaming near the school.”
Students also conducted a symbolic protest of killing the alcohol demon. They also raised slogans against government inaction in not closing liquor shops, one near Malleeswarar temple in Ashok Nagar and the other opposite MGR Nagar police station.
Jagathammal, a small vendor from Nesappakkam said that locals had been protesting to close the Tasmac shop near the school for more than six months. Rama Ravikumar, general secretary, Hindu Makkal Katchi who organised the protest said, “This is only a symbolic protest to draw the attention of officials. If they don’t close the shop, we will conduct a big protest organising locals, students and religious leaders.”
