Actor Rajinikanth launches attack as Tamil Nadu government approaches SC to reopen liquor stores

Chennai: Actor Rajinikanth on Sunday attacked the AIADMK government's decision to move the Supreme Court seeking an urgent stay on Madras High Court's order on Friday to shut liquor stores till the end of the lockdown period.

"If the state reopens the liquor shops at this time, it must forget the dream of coming to power again," said the actor who is yet to launch his political party.

This came as Tamil Nadu crossed 7,000 cases on Sunday as the State reported 669 new cases of the infection. Chennai accounted for 509 of the 669 cases on Sunday. Tamil Nadu has reported a whopping 7204 cases in all and has recorded 1959 recoveries and 47 deaths.


Liquor shops which re-opened in Tamil Nadu (except for Chennai) on Thursday clocked sales worth Rs 170 crore. This happened as the Madras High Court on Wednesday had refused to stay the state's decision to reopen liquor stores and provided guidelines that needed to be followed. The High Court had warned that failure to comply with the guidelines would lead to the closure of shops.

"Please look for better ways to fill coffers," the actor said in a scathing Tweet on his handle.

Rajinikanth joined the ranks of actor-politician Kamal Haasan and DMK chief MK Stalin who were among those who stiffly opposed the government's decision to re-open the liquor stores.

After the Madras High Court on Friday directed the State to close all liquor stores owing to the Court's prescribed directives not being adhered to, Haasan tweeted that it was not a victory for Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) alone. "The whole of Tamil Nadu ought to celebrate, saying our thoughts have won. This is a victory of the voice of Tamil mothers," he said.

However, on Saturday, the Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court to reverse the High Court's order that only allowed online sale of alcohol in the state.

Following this, Haasan tweeted saying, "The government is knocking at the doors of the Supreme Court to gamble with the lives of people. We shall come anywhere to stop you. Justice for people shall triumph."