DMK's call for dry regime with an eye on 2016 polls: AIADMK

CHENNAI: Continuing its attack on arch rival DMK on the issue of implementing prohibition in Tamil Nadu, ruling AIADMK today described as "deception" the former's call for introducing dry regime since it was being done with an "eye on polls" due next year.

Reflecting the government's stand on liquor, party mouthpiece "Dr Namathu MGR" indicated that implementing prohibition in the state was "not feasible".

Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Natham R Viswanathan, who also holds the Prohibition and Excise portfolio, had informed the state Assembly last week that implementing prohibition was not 'feasible' since it would promote hooch and subsequently encourage anti-social elements.

Slamming DMK for its prohibition call, the AIADMK party mouthpiece alleged senior leaders T R Baalu and S Jegathrakshagan owned liquor factories.

It took potshots at DMK Treasurer MK Stalin for highlighting the issue during his ongoing "Namakku Naame Vidiyal Meetpu Payanam" (We for ourselves, journey to retrieve dawn) across the state.

It also referred to DMK President M Karunanidhi's famous statement as Chief Minister, defending not implementing prohibition in the state, saying Tamil Nadu cannot afford to be "an unlit camphor" in the midst of a "ring of fire," pointing to the lack of dry regime in neighbouring states.

Further, despite being part of various central governments for about 17 years, DMK had never demanded for dry regime, it said, adding, Karunanidhi was "pretending to be a crusader of prohibition, which is not feasible now, with an eye on polls."

"This is a deception by Karunanidhi" and his party, it said.

The chorus for implementing prohibition in Tamil Nadu has been growing of late with political parties, including DMK, upping the ante on the issue, with the government stating that it was not against the dry regime as a policy.

"We don't oppose prohibition as a policy but it is not practically feasible. Prohibition will lead to hooch and subsequently promote rowdyism and anti-social elements," Viswanathan had told the state Assembly.

Incidentally, DMK, during its 2006-11 rule, had continued with the earlier AIADMK government's decision to sell liquor through retail outlets of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC).

Karunanidhi had recently said his party will take steps for introducing dry regime if voted to power in the next Assembly elections.