DMK MLA’s faux pas on auction of TASMAC bars

Raising the issue of lack of transparency in auctioning of the TASMAC bars in his native Pudukottai district, Raghupathy, participating in the budget debate in the Assembly, on Monday said, “Even our party men would run bars if the government auctions bars transparently,” the MLA remarked, leaving many an eye brows raised in the Opposition and a few in the Treasury benches as well.

The MLA realised his faux pas when Prohibition Minister Thangamani, intervening during the debate, responded by questioning the DMK’s commitment to enforcing total prohibition. “Your party has been demanding total prohibition, now you say your party men want to run bars. Probably, they are not keen on enforcing prohibition,” he remarked. 

An alert Raghupathy got into damage control mode and clarified the House that they (DMK) were for enforcing total prohibition and he had only pressed for ensuring transparency in allotment of the TASMAC bars, which was not the case in Pudukottai district.