CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi president Dr Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday strongly criticised the DMK government over liquor sales worth Rs 518 crore during the Pongal and Bhogi festival days, alleging that the ruling party has achieved “record growth only in liquor sales, not in people’s welfare”. In a statement, he said that liquor worth Rs 217 crore was sold on Bhogi and Rs 301 crore on Pongal through Tasmac outlets across TN.
“This marks a 14.10% increase compared to last year’s festival sales of Rs 454 crore. Liquor trade growth has surpassed the state’s economic growth rate of 11.19%,” he pointed out.
Anbumani also added that liquor sales during the four-day Pongal period this year are likely to cross Rs 900 crore, compared to Rs 725 crore recorded last year.
He alleged that the government appears to be recovering the Rs 6,000 crore Pongal cash assistance given to the people by boosting liquor sales during the same month.
Highlighting the role of Tasmac’s ‘Manamagizh Mandrams’, Anbumani said, “Liquor worth Rs 82.59 crore was sold through these clubs alone, accounting for nearly 19% of total sales, compared to Rs 435.41 crore sold through regular liquor shops.
Although the DMK government claims to have shut down about 500 liquor shops over the last five years, it has simultaneously expanded liquor consumption by increasing such premium outlets.”
Meanwhile, Tasmac employees are gearing up for a major protest from February 3 over unresolved demands, including the regularisation of service, time-scale pay, pension benefits, and amendments to the bottle buy-back scheme.
The buy-back scheme was temporarily stalled until Pongal after discussions between staff and officials, but is set to be enforced fully as per the court directive.
Employees argued that implementing the scheme required additional staff and adequate storage space for empty bottles to ensure smooth operations during peak hours — a concern previously highlighted by the HC.
An official confirmed that while the scheme was paused for the festival, “it will proceed in Chennai with further negotiations with staff”.