Stalin reiterates DMK's prohibition promise as party holds anti-liquor protests across TN

CHENNAI: DMK treasurer M K Stalin on Monday reiterated that the party would implement total prohibition in Tamil Nadu if it comes to power after the 2016 assembly elections.
“DMK has always kept its promises to the people in the state, including free electricity and rice for Re 1 per kilogram. Similarly, the party will implement prohibition, as promised by party chief M Karunanidhi,” Stalin said while inaugurating an anti-liquor protest at Sholinganallur in Chennai.
After the AIADMK government took office in 2011, Tasmac shops had been opened in each and every street corner, he said. "The DMK government had reintroduced prohibition while the AIADMK government reintroduced liquor in the state," he claimed.
The DMK government had reduced the timings of Tasmac shops and the number of shops and bars, he said.
Paying homage to Gandhian Sasi Perumal who died during an anti-liquor protest in Marthandam on July 31, Stalin said, “Officials and ruling party politicians are responsible for the death of Sasi Perumal. He did not die but was killed. Chief minister J Jayalalithaa has not condoled the death of the Gandhian who fought for a public cause."
DMK staged similar anti-liquor programmes across the state on Monday. Hundreds of party cadres, especially women, attended.
More than thousand party cadres staged a protest in front of the south taluk office In Coimbatore. They raised slogans against AIADMK government. Addressing the gathering, former minister Pongalur N Palanisamy said the party would come to power in 2016 and implement prohibition.
Nearly thousand people participated in demonstration at Anna Nagar in Madurai. North district secretary V Velusamy and South district secretary K Thalapathy led the demonstration. A similar demonstration was staged at Thirumangalam by rural district functionaries of the party.
Meanwhile, 15 Student Federation of India members were taken into police custody when they attempted to hold a hunger strike in front of a Tasmac shop at Bethaniapuram in Madurai.
The state is likely to witnesses several anti-liquor protests in the coming days. DMDK will hold a token fast at the party headquarters in Chennai on August 13. "The fast will begin at 8am and will end at 5pm. Party cadres, general public, traders and all sections of people will participate in the fast," said party chief leader Vijayakanth.
Similarly, MDMK, VCK, CPM, CPI and MMK will stage protests in Chennai, Madurai, Thanjavur, Erode and Tirunelveli on August 13.