Call for prohibition gets louder after student’s suicide in Nellai

BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan asserted that it could be the highest form of protest one can mount seeking total prohibition though she did not support the method the teenager chose. “This problem of alcohol abuse is plaguing at least 50 per cent of the families here. Dinesh has paid with his life so that the society, government, and politicians wake up for the cause,” she said. 

Tamilisai blamed the Dravidian parties saying that they are not enforcing the prohibition as many distilleries run by the politicians reap benefit from the liquor sale 

in the state. She also suggested the state to open rehabilitation centres at every government hospital. 

CPI(M) state president K Balakrishnan demanded that the state should own up the responsibility for Dinesh’s death and asked it to start shutting down liquor shops. PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said, “The culpability of this suicide lies on the state and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami should step down.” 

Minister D Jayakumar asserted that state’s policy is total prohibition and that the state was moving towards it in a phased manner. “Suicide can never be a solution to anything,” he said.

MDMK General Secretary Vaiko urged the state government to shut down TASMAC outlets and asked the youngsters not to involve in such activities anymore. “When a father consumes alcohol, his children witness this and later follow their footsteps. This has corrupted the entire society,” he said.