Pattali Makkal Katchi and Kongunadu Jananayaka Katchi would strive for total prohibition in the State, their leaders said here on Tuesday.
PMK leader S. Ramadoss inaugurated the fast in Coimbatore on Tuesday by signing a banner demanding prohibition.
The party and several other political parties were protesting across the State urging the State Government to bring in prohibition, but they had failed. They had even gone to the extent of locking liquor outlets but did not get any result.
KJK founder-president G.K. Nagaraj said that the fast was only the first in the series of steps it planned to bring in prohibition in Tamil Nadu. Increase in liquor consumption had resulted in increased road accidents, bread winners of families losing life, limbs or jobs, families moving down the social ladder and men suffering from diseases because of addiction to alcohol.
Mr. Nagaraj said that the protest was also to urge the State Government to implement the Pandiyaru-Punnampuzha, Athikadavu-Avinashi, Anamalaiaru-Nallaru and Mettur surplus water schemes for the benefit of Tamil Nadu.
Water supply schemesDuring drought, the Government handed over drought relief assistance and during monsoon it was floor relief assistance. Instead, the Government could divert the money for the water supply schemes.
As part of the protest, the party gave away prizes to students who had won essay writing, poetry writing and painting competitions.
A release from KJK said that representatives from Kongu Velalagounder Peravai, All India Forward Block, Tamilnadu Telugu Makkal Katchi, Gokula Makkal Katchi and a number of organisations participated in the fast.
Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam leader Tamizharuvi Manian participated in the conclusion of the fast in the evening.
