Activist's Sasi Perumal death: DMK seeks immediate ban on liquor in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Taking a strong stand after the death of Gandhian activist Sasi Perumal during a stir demanding the closure of a liquor outlet, DMK chief Karunanidhi today urged the ruling AIADMK to immediately announce prohibition in Tamil Nadu to avoid similar occurrences in the future.

"So as to save several other lives and avoid deaths like that of Perumal, the AIADMK regime must declare prohibition in Tamil Nadu without further delay," he said in a statement here.

"Though I had said (recently) that steps will be taken to bring prohibition (if DMK was voted to power), the present situation is hugely supportive of imposing dry law (sic) immediately without giving room to any other alternative idea," the DMK chief added.

He claimed that support among the people for the banning of liquor was on an upswing.

He referred to protests in Tamil Nadu seeking closure of all liquor outlets run by the state government through the TN State Marketing Corporation ( TASMAC), including the ones led by MDMK chief Vaiko's 99-year-old mother Mariammal and the members of Perumal's family.

"Eminent Gandhian Sasi Perumal gave his life as the price for supporting the demand for prohibition and his family, too, has begun a protest," he said.

Citing the dawn-to-dusk bandh call by opposition parties on August 4, and crimes allegedly linked to alcohol consumption, Karunanidhi said that "in such a situation, the need to take steps to impose prohibition is urgent and essential".

Meanwhile, in a joint statement, MDMK, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi appealed to traders and shopkeepers to keep their outlets closed in support of the bandh call on August 4 seeking prohibition in the state.

They said that transportation will not be affected by the bandh and sought the support of the people as they urged them to consider the future of their children.

Demanding the closure of a liquor outlet near an educational institute, Perumal had climbed a 120-ft mobile phone tower in Kanyakumari district on July 31.

However, he suddenly collapsed during the stir, which had continued for more than five hours, and was declared brought dead at hospital.