Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has protested against the remarks made by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leadership that production and sale of toddy should be banned in the State.
Talking to The Hindu hereon Saturday, Mr. Natesan said that no one could deny the fact that the IUML remarks were aimed at the destruction of members of a community which constituted a major workforce of the toddy industry in the State.
If the IUML had sincerity on the issue, it should have demanded prohibition of liquor as well as come out against the widespread use of narcotic substances. The IUML agenda of targeting the toddy industry alone was not of present origin.
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The party failed to speak on prohibition, he said. Mr. Natesan said the toddy industry workers should not be punished for the inaction on the part of the government. One should remember that when the State treasury had to be closed down, crores of rupees were diverted from the Toddy Workers’ Welfare Board to save the government coffers.