As of Monday (15 May 2023) evening, the death toll from the consumption of illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu had risen to 17. The alleged incident occurred in Ekkiyarkuppam, a small fishing hamlet in the Vizhuppuram district. A significant number of fatalities were also reported in Sithamur, Chengalpattu district.
Following this incident, Tamil Nadu DGP Sylendra Babu directed all district SPs, city police commissioners, and Prohibition Division officers to step up anti-liquor operations. Consequently, police in Tamil Nadu are actively investigating and making arrests in this regard.
So far, 410 people have been arrested in 10 districts, including Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur, Villupuram, Nagai, Mayiladuthurai, and Cuddalore, in connection with the sale of illegal liquor. 150 people have been remanded in custody. Around 260 criminals are out on bail and ten people have gone missing. According to the DGP office, 8,748 liters of spurious liquor and 4,720 bottles of spirits have been confiscated thus far, and action is being taken against spurious liquor in various districts.
Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami personally met and inquired about the well-being of the people who are being treated at the Mundyambakkam government hospital for consumption of spurious liquor.
Addressing the press after his meeting, he stated “The government has failed to control the sale of bootleg liquor. The DMK government is notorious for allowing the sale of alcohol in sports stadiums and shopping malls. They said that milk and honey would flood the streets if DMK comes to power. But the reality is that only spurious liquor is flowing. Drugs like ganja are easily available in Tamil Nadu. No social activist or actor has spoken out against the deaths caused by illegal liquor. During the AIADMK rule, many people sang songs against alcoholism. But I’m wondering where they all went now. Common people were killed after consuming illicit alcohol sold by members of the ruling party and people with political backgrounds. Those responsible for these crimes should be punished without regard for political affiliation.
It should be noted that actors such as Surya, Karthi, Siddharth, and Kamal Haasan, who were making political statements during the AIADMK regime, have gone silent, and it is these people who Edappadi Palaniswami refers to in his speech. TASMAC Kovan, May 17 Thirumurugan Gandhi, Poovulagin Nanbar G Sundarrajan and other activists who had been protesting for everything during the AIADMK regime went into hibernation mode as well.
Meanwhile, old tweets from actors Surya, Karthi, and Kamal Haasan are going viral, calling their silence into question. On July 29, 2020, actor Surya took to social media to express his opposition to the draft Environmental Impact Assessment 2020 (EIA draft 2020).
On July 29, 2020, actor Surya took to social media to express his opposition to the draft Environmental Impact Assessment 2020 (EIA draft 2020). He backed his brother, actor Karthi, in his statement against EIA 2020. In a tweet, Suriya Sivakumar said, “More than the words we utter, the unuttered silence is very dangerous. Save… Save.. Save the environment.. Let us dispel the silence.” Quoting this tweet netizen asked actor Surya Sivakumar to dispel his silence.
பேசிய வார்த்தைகளை விட, பேசாத மௌனம் மிக ஆபத்தானது. காக்க.. காக்க.. சுற்றுச்சூழல் காக்க.. நம் மௌனம் கலைப்போம்.. #EIA2020 https://t.co/le0hgpzHPX
— Suriya Sivakumar (@Suriya_offl) July 29, 2020
On June 13, 2021, Kamal Hasan, a small screen anchor, tweeted, ” Alcohol is essential for those who are used to drinking and those who are used to selling. The new Chief Minister must ensure that the same scene does not occur following a regime change.” Social media users wondered where the actor’s rage against liquor had gone.
குடித்துப் பழகியவர்களுக்கும், விற்றுப் பழகியவர்களுக்குமே மது அத்தியாவசியம். ஆட்சி மாறினாலும் காட்சிகள் மாறவில்லை எனும் அவச்சொல் எழாமல் புதிய முதல்வர் பார்த்துக்கொள்ளவேண்டும்.
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) June 13, 2021
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