Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S Ramadoss on Tuesday charged the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which offered to implement prohibition in Tamil Nadu if voted to power, with removing prohibition and ruining the generations.
Referring to Mr. Karunanidhi’s statement in this regard, Dr. Ramadoss said “it sounded like an appeal for clemency to me.”
“It was Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) who scrapped the total prohibition that was in vogue since 1948 and led Tamil Nadu to the present appalling situation,” he said.
In a scathing attack on Mr. Karunanidhi for proposing prohibition, Dr. Ramadoss alleged that the “obvious reason (to make the proposal) is that elections are coming in 8 months.”
The PMK founder recalled that when Mr. Karunanidhi decided to scrap prohibition in 1971, a ‘shocked Rajaji’(veteran Congress leader C Rajagopalachari) “begged” with the DMK leader, then Chief Minister, not to do so.
“I remember vividly that Kalaignar not only rejected his request but made a mockery of him by saying ‘he met me with a recommendation’ and went ahead to remove prohibition.
When a whole generation of Tamil Nadu lived without smelling alcohol, it was Kalaignar who introduced them to liquor and ruined them and their generations,” Dr. Ramadoss said in a statement.
He said PMK has steadfastly supported prohibition for the past 35 years, but Mr. Karunanidhi “who ruined Tamil Nadu by taking that colossal decision to open liquor shops in 1971 had realised the evils of his action after 44 years.”
He said even when his party was supporting the DMK government of 2006-11, he had sought implementation of prohibition, “but I only received sneer and scorn.”
Though Mr. Karunanidhi had refused to accept his demand, he had however reduced the sales hour by one hour, besides assuring him no new shops would be opened, Dr. Ramadoss said.
Mr. Karunanidhi had however not implemented his assurance of implementing prohibition in stages, he said, adding, new liquor manufacturing units were also allowed in the state, including those owned by DMK men.
“If Kalaignar has true commitment for his declaration let him first close the alcohol manufacturing units of DMK men and DMK supported men and (then) talk about prohibition,” he said.
“The people of the state will not believe Karunanidhi’s words,” he added.
In a statement on Monday, Mr. Karunanidhi had said “If DMK comes to power again steps will be taken for implementation of prohibition, to ensure social change and betterment.”
