The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : DMK urges government to move towards total prohibition

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Sunday, Dec 28, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

DMK urges government to move towards total prohibition

Special Correspondent

M.K.Stalin replaces Arcot N.Veeraswami as party treasurer

— Photo : M.Vedhan

NEW ROLE: Local Administration Minister M.K.Stalin at the DMK’s general council meeting in Chennai shortly after his election as treasurer of the party on Saturday.

CHENNAI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s general council on Saturday urged the State government to move towards total prohibition in Tamil Nadu. A resolution adopted in the general council welcomed Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s decision to reduce the working hours of TASMAC liquor shops by an hour from New Year in response to a representation made by a team of leaders led by PMK leader S.Ramadoss.

The State government had already closed 1,300 bars and 12 retail liquor shops and decided not to open new outlets, the resolution said.

“The DMK government should work towards achieving total prohibition in the State,” it stressed.

Another resolution welcomed the new laws enacted by the Centre to curb terrorism , but urged the government to ensure that it was not used against the interest of the federal principles of the country, the interests of the states and the freedom of individuals.

The resolutions were read out by Local Administration Minister M.K.Stalin who has been elected as the treasurer of the party, a post once held by his father and Chief Minster M.Karunanidhi. K. Anbazhagan was elected the general secretary.

The outgoing treasurer and Electricity Minister Arcot N.Veeraswami said it was he who convinced party president and Chief Minister Karunanidhi about making Mr. Stalin the treasurer.

“I told the Chief Minister the party would be galvanised only if Mr.Stalin was given a new post as announced in the youth wing conference in Tirunelveli,” he told the general council. In his speech Mr.Karunanidhi, in a lighter vein, said, “Mr.Veeraswami took my post from me. Now he has given it to my son.”

Mr.Veeraswami was appointed as the principal secretary of the party, while PWD minister Durai Murugan, who functioned as the principal secretary was made deputy general secretary. The party rules were amended to place the principal secretary above the post of deputy general secretaries. Information Minister Parithi Illamvazhuthi and senior leader Sarguna Pandian retained their posts as deputy general secretaries.

Former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran attended the general council. As many as 10 resolutions, including a resolution hailing the golden jubilee celebrations of the Cuban revolution, were adopted in the meeting. One resolution urged the government to increase the price of sugarcane for farmers.

PM congratulates

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi on his election as the president of the DMK for the 10th time. Mr.Karunanidhi drew his attention to the resolution urging him to send External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to hold talks with the Sri Lankan government.

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