CHENNAI: In a response to state law minister Regupathy who had said that complete prohibition will result in sale of spurious liquor, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss urged the government to resign if it could not implement prohibition.
In a statement, Anbumani recalled that Regupathy had also said that the state government could not ban alcohol and that prohibition was possible only if the ban is imposed across the country. "The DMK is demanding all powers for state governments. But when asked about prohibition or caste-based census, it points to the central government," the PMK leader said.
Like law and order, prohibition is also under the state list, and the state government has the responsibility and power to implement prohibition, he added.
"Minister Regupathy says prohibition will encourage spurious liquor sale. Won't the sale of spurious liquor increase if the central government bans alcohol? In such a case, will the Dravida model government hand over the law and order to the central government? Claims of influx of alcohol from other states if prohibition implemented in Tamil Nadu is a mere excuse," Anbumani opined.
Recalling that PMK released guidelines to ban alcohol 15 years ago, the leader urged the government to resign if it could not ban alcohol.