The General Secretary of DMK and Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan has sparked controversy by saying in the Assembly that, “There is no kick in TASMAC liquor. Some people drink bootleg liquor to get a stronger effect (kick).”
Duraimurugan’s comments came in light of many of the Opposition leaders like PMK, BJP calling for total liquor prohibition in the state.
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly commenced on 20 June 2024, amidst the aftermath of the tragic Kallakurichi hooch deaths caused by consuming counterfeit liquor. In response, all political parties visited the families of the victims to offer condolences, and the families unanimously called for a complete ban on liquor and the enforcement of prohibition. This sentiment further fueled the existing public consensus favoring prohibition.
Against this backdrop, when Prohibition Minister S Muthusamy presented the Prohibition Bill for discussion. During the conversation, Minister Durai Murugan emphasized the importance of alcohol in alleviating the suffering of laborers. He mentioned the lack of potency in TASMAC alcohol, leading some individuals to seek a stronger effect through bootleg drinks. He said that TASMAC liquor has now become like soft-drinks to them which is making them go towards bootleg liquor akin to like insects drawn to light.
He also went to trivialize the seriousness of the issue saying “Can we put police station in every street? We can even bring a law that calls for capital punishment for authorities who are involved in illicit liquor trade, but is it possible? Let bygones be bygones.”
This statement sparked discussions during the recent session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, then Minister Muthusamy addressed funding requests for the police, prisons, and fire departments. Furthermore, a bill to amend the Liquor Prohibition Act of 1937 was introduced and passed to tackle incidents of liquor counterfeiting. The amendment seeks to enhance penalties for the production and sale of hazardous substances, marking an initial step toward addressing such criminal activities.
#BREAKING || "டாஸ்மாக் சரக்கில் கிக்கில்ல" – துரைமுருகன்#MinisterDuraimurugan #Tasmac #tnassembly #TasmacDrinks #newstamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/IsT1eO17sI
— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) June 29, 2024
(With Inputs From Dinamalar)
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