Madurai Collectorate faces ire of anti-TASMAC protesters

Residents of Valayankulam in Madurai came to the Collectorate and submitted a petition against setting up of a TASMAC shop in their locality. They said, “We have been asking the Government to construct a bridge in our area. But the officials have paid little heed. Whereas they are getting ready to construct a new building to accommodate a TASMAC shop. This shows that neither the officials nor the government are interested in the welfare of the people”. 

They further said that this attitude shows that the officials are more inclined towards revenue that the shop would generate. Therefore, if the government is desperate in setting up a TASMAC shop they should do it inside government offices where a large number of people visit every day. This would therefore generate a high revenue. 

The residents were particular that the TASMAC shop should not be set up in their locality. “If it is done despite opposition from the people we would stage an indefinite fast right at the entrance of the shop,” said the residents. Sarasu, a resident, said that both her sons were addicted to liquor. This habit had created several problems in their families. Hence, if her grandchildren are to be saved from the menace of liquor, the government should not permit to open TASMAC shops in the state, urged Sarasu. 

Similarly, residents of Airavadhanallur in Madurai too opposed setting up of an elite bar in their locality. In the petition submitted by them to the Madurai Collector, K Veera Raghav Rao, they had claimed that already the crime rate was high in their locality and if a new bar came up they would have to vacate the locality.