Chennai: Facing mounting pressure over demands for implementing prohibition, ruling AIADMK on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on its rivals, insisting that electoral gains were behind their vocal opposition to liquor.
The Jayalalithaa-led party said that 'the fire lit by' DMK chief M Karunanidhi 45 years back was now 'blazing' in the state, adding prohibition was not possible only because 'national' parties ruling or having ruled neighbouring states never followed the dry law.
It also demanded to know why the parties were not demanding that the neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry, where liquor is freely available, also implement prohibition.
Party mouthpiece, 'Dr.Namadhu MGR' carried a series of stinging articles against its rivals, questioning DMK and others over their stand on prohibition.
Claiming that Karunanidhi had urged then Chief Minister, the late C N Annadurai, to remove prohibition in Tamil Nadu, it said that soon after he succeeded him, the DMK President had done away with the dry regime.
"The fire lit by Karunanidhi is still blazing," and affecting Tamil Nadu, it said.
Questioning the timing of opposition parties upping the ante against liquor, it sought to known what they, including Congress, a former ally of DMK, were doing all this while.
It asked why TNCC President E V K S Elangovan, who had announced his party's support to today's bandh calling for prohibition, had not insisted on it during the 2006-11 DMK rule when the Karunanidhi government was dependent on the crucial support of Congress with its 35-odd MLAs for survival.
"What were Congressmen, who were supporting the DMK government, doing then? Did these Gandhians promise to support to the government on the condition that liquor shops should be closed?," it asked.
It also criticised MDMK leader Vaiko, BJP state unit President Tamizhisai Sounderrajan and DMDK founder and Opposition Leader in Tamil Nadu Assembly, Vijayakant for raking up the issue now.
"Wasn't it Karunanidhi who welcomed the demon called liquor into Tamil Nadu 45 years ago. What is the mystery behind him, Vaiko, Vijayakant, Elangovan and Tamizhisai suddenly joining the bandwagon?"
"The 2016 Assembly elections are their only aim. They don't have even an iota of inclination to eradicate liquor," it charged.
People will not believe these political parties, 'their desperation not withstanding,' it said while claiming that they look upto only their party General Secretary 'Amma,' Jayalalithaa.
