Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss has termed the cash-for-vote practice as the political cancer in Tamil Nadu.
Addressing the party’s Women’s Conference for Political Renaissance at the Coronation Grounds here on Saturday, Mr. Ramadoss said that the State topped in bribing voters.
People should put it in writing before their houses that their votes were not for sale and drive away anyone who approached them with money to buy their votes.
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The two Dravidian parties had ruined several families by opening Tasmac liquor outlets at every nook and corner of the State, he said.
The governments in the State had been dependent on the revenue earned from liquor, with which freebies were provided to the people, he alleged.
Attributing the crime rate to free availability of alcohol, he said as many as 20,300 crimes were recorded across the State against women. Of these, 2380 were rape cases. This showed deterioration in the law and order. Women were not able walk in public places, he said.
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PMK was the only party, along with all community and religious leaders, fighting for implementation of total prohibition in the State for the last 35 years.
The days of the AIADMK rule were being counted. The PMK would capture power in the State in the 2016 Assembly elections and would introduce total prohibition first.
Mr. Ramadoss also distributed head-bands and placards containing the message ``My Vote is not for Sale’’ to the youth and women members of the party.
Earlier, party’s state president and Krishnagiri Lok Sabha candidate G.K. Mani distributed handbills on the ill-effects of consuming liquor at the five road junction in Krishnagiri. A stage show on the ill-effects was organised.
The resolutions passed at the conference included the demand for total prohibition, protection of the rights of women and their safety and parents’ approval be made mandatory for marriage of girls before they attained the age of 21.