Prohibition debate moves into Tamil Nadu Assembly

CHENNAI: After calls for prohibition were made on the streets, anti-alcohol voices are all set to reverberate within the walls of the Tamil Nadu assembly when the session gets going from Tuesday.

A Congress MLA plans to move a private member's Bill seeking to implement prohibition in the state, while the major Opposition party DMK will follow up on a resolution submitted in the state assembly demanding a liquor ban.

"I will be moving a private member's Bill with the intention of not just bringing about total prohibition in the state but also rehabilitation of those affected due to alcohol consumption," Congress MLA S Vijayadharini told reporters on Monday, when members condoled the death of former president APJ Abdul Kalam and others.

"There are six sections in the Bill, which covers the implementation of prohibition in a phased manner. The Bill also covers the welfare of the family members of those who have died due to alcohol consumption and a rehabilitation programme for alcoholics," Vijayadharini said.

Asked if the DMK would support the private member's Bill if it came up for discussion, party treasurer MK Stalin said that he himself had moved a resolution seeking prohibition. "I have handed over a resolution on prohibition and I hope the speaker will allow a discussion on the floor of the assembly ," Stalin told reporters at the state secretariat.

Calls for total prohibition have gained momentum in Tamil Nadu with activists and social workers leading protests across the state. Political parties are now vying with each other to be seen as proponents of the cause in the run up to the 2016 assembly elections.

With the assembly session convened after a considerable gap, legislators will mount pressure on the ruling AIADMK to respond to the issue of prohibition. Chief minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa didn't make a statement on the matter during her Independence Day address, as was expected.

"Our chief minister is well aware of the seriousness of the issue and prohibition is a subject that is close to her," said actor-MLA R Sarathkumar, founder-president of the Ahila Indhiya Samaththuva Makkal Katchi, an ally of the AIADMK.

"The chief minister has to look into all sides of the issue and implications of this issue. The sale of alcohol brings in revenue close to 30,000 crore to the state exchequer and if there is a ban, the state will have to look into alternative sources of revenue. The issue of prohibition can only be done in a phased manner. I am sure the chief minister is doing her best and will announce the right decision soon," Sarathkumar told reporters.