Will protest till all TASMAC shops are shut: Dr Anbumani Ramadas
He said the PMK was the only party which campaigns spiritedly for imposition of prohibition in the state
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-06-30 06:45 GMT
Salem: The Pattali Makkal Katchi will mobilise the womenfolk in Tamil Nadu and stage a massive protest against the state-run TASMAC liquor shops which are ruining millions of families in the state. "We will continue our protest till all the TASMAC liquor shops are shut in the state. We are willing face any legal and political consequences," the PMK MP, Dr Anbumani Ramadas said.
Participating in the PMK women's wing's protest against TASMAC outlets in the state, Dr Anbumani Ramadas said the PMK was the only party which campaigns spiritedly for imposition of prohibition in the state. But the ruling AIADMK and the Opposition DMK were not in favour of prohibition despite a survey findings indicating that 5 lakh children are orphaned in Tamil Nadu by their alcoholic fathers. About 18 lakh people have died due to chronic addiction to liquor. "If the PMK is voted to power, the first order we will sign is to impose prohibition," he said.
Alcoholism is not political or communal issue, but a social evil that has to be combated. When the PMK comes to power, Tamil Nadu will become liquor-free and all children will get free education. The most populous state in India, Uttar Pradesh earned only Rs 12,000 crore through sale of liquor but Tamil Nadu which has just a population of 7.25 crore people had mopped up a total of Rs 36,000 crore through Tasmac liquor outlets.
About one-third of the state's revenue comes from liquor sales, which is a matter of shame, he said. In neighbouring Kerala, the government had taken steps to bring in prohibition in phases.