BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai, on May 21, met Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi at Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum seeking removal of Gingee Mastan and Senthilbalaji from their ministerial posts, over the recent twin hooch tragedies.
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Since May 2021, there has been a spike in the increase of Drug and Alcohol abuse-related cases like never before in Tamil Nadu, he claimed in the memorandum.
This year’s policy note of the state government states that there have been no hooch-related tragedies in Tamil Nadu in the past 14 years. However, the recent deaths in Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts stand testament to this government’s failure to prohibit the sale of illicit liquor in the state, he contended..
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Mr. Annamalai further alleged that the prime accused in the case is related to the ruling DMK.
The man arrested in Chengalpattu is the brother of DMK’s local unit vice president. Maruvoor Raja, the primary source of illicit liquor, has constantly appeared alongside Tamil Nadu Minority Affairs Minister Gingee Mastan, Annamalai alleged.
The primary responsibility of Senthilbalaji as Minister of Prohibition and Excise is to curb illicit liquor in the state. Yet, he seemed to be devoted to increasing the revenue of Tasmac, he charged.
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BJP state president K Annamalai, accompanied by party leaders, met and submitted a memorandum to Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi at Raj Bhavan in Chennai on May 21, 2023 seeking removal of Gingee Mastan and Senthilbalaji from their ministerial posts, over the recent twin hooch tragedies. | Photo Credit: Twitter / @annamalai_k
The memorandum sought Governor’s intervention in the issue and also thanked him for seeking a report on the incident.
Annamalai has also cited the recent Supreme Court verdict which paved the way for the Crime Branch investigation to continue against V. Senthilbalaji, who is accused of taking bribes in exchange for jobs in the Metro Transport Corporation (MTC). The verdict also gave the green signal for the initiation of proceedings by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe money laundering charges against the Minister.
Also Read | Death by methanol: on the hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu
After becoming Minister (in May 2021), Senthilbalaji has been pulling strings to get rid of the case, he alleged.
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Record sales of liquor
Speaking to journalists at the Coimbatore airport later in the day, Mr. Annamalai accused Mr. Senthilbalaji of failure to regulate Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) sale and curb the manufacture of spurious liquor in the State.
“Revenue from liquor sales increased from ₹36,000 crore to ₹44,000 crore during the period 2021-22 to 2022-23, registering 22% growth. No place in India has seen such a rise in liquor sales. At the same time, the seizure of spurious liquor has also increased,” he added.
Mr. Annamalai said 2.53 lakh litres of spurious liquor was seized in 2023 as per the DGP’s report. After the recent tragedy in Villupuram and Chengalpattu, 22,000 litres of spurious liquor was seized and 1,558 people were booked,
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“In Tamil Nadu, Tasmac and spurious liquor grow side by side. Though Mr. Senthilbalaji’s duty is to contain the manufacture and sale of spurious liquor and regulate Tasmac sales, his focus is on accelerating Tasmac, to generate a revenue of ₹50,000 crore and bring money to the government and to himself. But, he pays no attention to curbing spurious liquor,” he alleged.
‘Three-year action plan’
The White Paper, the publication of which Mr. Annamalai announced on Saturday, May 20, 2023, would set forth a three-year action plan to shut down 75% of the Tasmac outlets in the State and promote toddy tapping. Promoting toddy tapping would rejuvenate agriculture and bring revenue to the government, he said.
“All DMK Ministers say that stopping liquor sale will affect revenue generation. The White Paper will set forth a plan to stop liquor sales without losing revenue. It will also highlight how toddy and palm sugar will generate ₹1 lakh crore in next five years,” he said.
After the White Paper was released, a public meeting would be held in Villupuram, where the spurious liquor tragedy took place, in about 20 days. This would be followed by meetings at other places in which toddy tappers would take part.