Media Release - Review liquor policy, Lok Satta Urges Jayalalitha Government - LSP Leaders arrested for launching agitation against TN liquor policy. Fasting at Coimbatore Jail & Tiruppur Party office.
Surendra Srivastava
Review liquor policy, Lok Satta Urges Jayalalitha Government - LSP Leaders arrested for launching agitation against TN liquor policy. Fasting at Coimbatore Jail & Tiruppur Party office Continues for these premeditated arrests.
Reacting on the premeditated arrest of Loksatta Party's senior leaders Palani kumar, Nagarajan and Selvaraj in Tirupur, Party President Surendra Srivastava today demanded release of its leaders unconditionally and a thorough overhaul of the liquor policy in the wake of the illicit liquor and toddy tragedies in the State. He wanted nationalization of the retail liquor trade, strict curbs on the number of retail outlets and making panchayats & wards/division committees responsible for eradicating the illicit menace.
In a media statement, Mr. Srivastava said the illicit liquor deaths were not an accident, they flowed directly from the flawed and misconceived Government policy of enriching the treasury at the expense of the poor. This is nothing but a massive fraud on the poor, he said.
Mr. Srivastava charged AIADMK and DMK which shed tears over illicit liquor tragedies are not sincere as they are not prepared to kill the goose that lays golden eggs for them as well as officials. Excise and police officials have enough powers to curb illicit liquor but they do not exercise them for obvious reasons. The Government with its eyes set on revenue turns a blind eye to all malpractices. Traditional parties which believe in vote bank politics lure voters with free supply of liquor during elections to all institutions ranging from the panchayat to Parliament. It once again suits political parties if people lose their ability to question them having become addicts to liquor. Post-elections, those who come to power corner liquorshops and start earning black money.
Mr Srivastava charged that there is a nexus between liquor syndicates on the one hand and politicians & officials on the other. The Government would not disclose their details as though it amounted to revealing a national defence secret.
The role of the state is to develop the society and provide environment for equal opportunities. If the state takes the role of business, then we may have other kind of issues like India is already facing. Liquor in Indian environment has larger social and economics implication on Individual families as well as a society and state can not ignore that otherwise the very existence of the state will become questionable.