CHENNAI: Launching her campaign for the Assembly elections at the Island Grounds, Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Saturday promised that “after the AIADMK forms government in May 2016, prohibition will be implemented in a phased manner that would eventually lead to achieve total prohibition in Tamil Nadu.”
Stating that the DMK had no locus standi to speak about enforcing prohibition in the State, the AIADMK supremo recalled that DMK president M Karunanidhi had,in the past, justified lifting of prohibition in all possible ways. “A generation which was unknown to liquor was introduced to it by the DMK regime in 1971. Now, he is demanding prohibition keeping an eye on the votes”, she said and pointed out that liquor sales had gone up during the DMK regime while it had come down during the AIADMK government.
“Total prohibition cannot be implemented in one go. It can be implemented only in a phased manner. After the AIADMK forms the government in May, prohibition will be enforced gradually. First, the timings for liquor shops will be reduced. Later, the number of shops will be brought down. After that, the bars attached to the liquor shops will be removed. Apart from these steps, de-addiction centres will be opened to treat those afflicted with alcoholism. These steps will lead to total prohibition in Tamil Nadu”, Jayalalithaa said.
Seeking a performance vote from the people, the AIADMK supremo gave a detailed account on the welfare measures that had been implemented by her government during the past five years. “To continue these welfare measures, please elect AIADMK candidates again”, she appealed to the voters.
Earlier, on her way to the campaign venue, she was given rousing reception by the AIADMK cadre. After the meeting was over, many functionaries from other parties including CPI MLA Ponnupandi joined the AIADMK in the presence of Jayalalithaa.