A shocking incident at a wedding in Puducherry has gained attention after a video went viral on Twitter. Guests attending the ceremony were surprised to receive liquor bottles as return gifts, deviating from the traditional practice of betel leaf packages.
Welcome to Dravidian Model of Development! Next year, another 25% increase in TASMAC revenue, adjacently filling the coffers of politicians run liquor manufacturing companies. pic.twitter.com/8qD1F5dxxi
— Dharmic Indians (@dharmic_indians) June 1, 2023
The wedding of Nirmal, a bridegroom from Chennai, and Arathi from Puducherry, took place at the Mahalakshmi Wedding Hall in Puducherry on 28 May 2023. The reception included the distribution of liquor bottles alongside the customary betel leaf packages given to guests.
Typically, betel leaf packages consist of betel nuts, fruits, sweets, books, garlands, or flowers. In the absence of these items, a coconut is often used as a substitute. However, this wedding ceremony broke tradition by including liquor bottles in the betel leaf packages.
The video capturing this incident has now gone viral, prompting discussions and justifications. Some claim that since people from Chennai frequently visit Puducherry, where alcohol is readily available, liquor as part of the festivities is seen as a form of entertainment. However, friends of the bride have clarified that this was not the intention. While some netizens speculated that the couple may not have many friends or relatives attending, the act of providing liquor bottles at a public wedding ceremony has been criticized by many.
This incident has brought attention to the increased revenue generated by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), which saw a significant leap from ₹ 36,056 crores in 2021 to ₹ 44,098 crores in 2022. It is expected that TASMAC’s revenue will further increase by 25%, filling the coffers of liquor manufacturing companies linked to DMK Ministers.
Critics argue that this incident reflects the Dravidian model’s emphasis on normalizing alcohol consumption, potentially leading to social problems. The DMK government, in a white paper released shortly after assuming office, revealed that the state government’s debt burden reached ₹ 5,70,189 crore during 2021-22, translating to a debt burden of ₹ 2,63,976 per family. By the end of 2023-24, the debt burden is projected to increase to ₹ 7,26,028 crores, with each family shouldering a debt of ₹ 3.30 lakh.
With the Tamil Nadu government depending on TASMAC to alleviate the state’s debt burden, concerns are raised about the potential impact on the future and development of the state’s young population.
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