PMK founder S. Ramadoss flummoxed his critics on Thursday, urging the Tamil Nadu government to emulate the Kerala model to either clamp prohibition in one stroke or usher it in phases.
In a statement here, he said Tamil Nadu was expressing its inability to implement prohibition arguing that it was not feasible when the measure was not enforced in the neighbouring States. But, Kerala was moving towards prohibition in phases.
Pointing out that Kerala had 383 liquor outlets and 752 bars (permit rooms), Dr. Ramadoss said that in one move, the government closed 418 bars. Then, it shut down 18 bars and 45 liquor stores. Quoting Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V.M. Sudheeran, Dr. Ramadoss said the Oomen Chandy government was striving for total prohibition ahead of the 2016 Assembly polls.
Appreciating Kerala’s steps to protect its people from the ill-effects of alcohol, Dr. Ramadoss, citing the Kerala State Crime Records Bureau statistics, said the closure of bars had brought down the rate of crimes by 15 per cent and the number of road accidents by 10 per cent. Even sexual offences and crimes against women had come down.
Contrary to such trends, Tamil Nadu was opening more liquor, beer and Tasmac outlets, Dr. Ramadoss said. This resulted in the crime rate soaring and increasing concerns over the safety of women and children.