Rahul Gandhi promises new liquor policy for Tamil Nadu

Tiruchy: Jumping on to the anti-liquor bandwagon in the state, the Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday promised a new liquor policy in consultation with the people.  Addressing a huge gathering at ‘G Corner’ ground, he said, “We will listen to the voices of families torn apart by liquor. We will listen to the women of Tamil Nadu. We will come up with a new liquor policy after listening to what you have to say, a liquor policy that will work in your interest.”

Taking a dig at the DMK and AIADMK for pursing a pro-liquor policy, the Congress vice president, who was careful not to mention the name of a single regional party ahead of an election year, said the regional parties in Tamil Nadu were not listening to the sufferings of the poor and lower classes, but only the liquor barons.“There are some voices they are listening to.  It is their own and the voice of the liquor lobby,” he said, wondering who they are.

Noting that TN had netted Rs 30,000 crore from liquor even last year, the AICC vice president sarcastically added, “Even the rain has slowed down while talking about the liquor lobby,” referring to the thunderstorm that eased and reduced to a drizzle in the course of his 27-minute speech. Noting that each year Rs 10,000 from the pocket of each person in TN goes to the liquor contractors, who, he alleged, are “benamis of the leaders of regional parties, “Mr Gandhi said the government's liquor policy is destroying families.

“I want to tell the mothers and sisters of Tamil Nadu that we understand your problems and the pain you go through. We are going to fight to make sure that pain is alleviated. Regional parties do not want to listen because they get money through liquor sale. Kamaraj built families and society. But regional party rulers are destroying families. The more you suffer the more money they get,” the Congress poster boy thundered, adding that the Congress party led by EVKS Elangovan understands the pain and it will listen to the people of the state like Kamaraj who listened to the lower classes and built 13,000 schools in his nine years as Chief Minister to alleviate people from poverty.

Blaming the reign of the Dravidian majors for the high rate of unemployment and sufferings endured by Dalits in the state, Mr Gandhi also promised jobs the youth of TN deserve and fast track courts to ensure that no atrocity against Dalits goes unpunished.

“No matter who you are and where you are, whether you are a farmer or a dalit or a tribal or rich or poor, if you are treated unfairly, the Congress party will help you, will work in your interest,” said Rahul appealing to the people to help bring back the golden rule of Kamarajar when the Dalits felt safe.