Chennai: The assembly witnessed a heated exchange between ministers and opposition MLAs over total prohibition, liquor procurement and MRP violation at retail shops.It all started with PMK MLA Sowmiya Anbumani demanding total prohibition, while welcoming closure of 717 liquor shops by the TVK govt. She said many families lose family heads and youngsters due to addiction to liquor and all it requires to put an end to this is a single signature.Responding, PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna, said the previous govts never thought about implementing prohibition. “It remained a lip service,” he said. The minister said western districts reported high liquor sales since most of the population were marginalised communities and it has over the years become an addiction/disease. Aadhav said total prohibition could not be practically implemented with a signature and requires a comprehensive rehabilitation programme, which the TVK govt is preparing on a war-footing. “But the previous DMK minister justified the working class consuming liquor for recovery from the daily labour,” he said.The PWD minister accused the DMK govt of granting licences to its own treasurer and the member of parliament, and forced buyers to purchase the liquor they manufactured. The minister called it ‘white money’ scam and DMK MLAs objected to the statement.DMK MLA V Senthil Balaji said the previous DMK govt closed 603 shops in five years and added the revenue jump was due to hike in tax.DMK leader KN Nehru said the TVK govt justified the MRP violation, while accusing DMK govt of committing a scam. “The minister himself admits that the extra money collected was used to pay electricity bills and cover other expenses, so it is unfair to accuse DMK of collecting extra money over MRP,” he said.Intervening, prohibition and excise minister said salaries of the Tasmac employees were not revised properly, while they were also burdened to pay power bills, rent and other basic amenities. “DMK encouraged Tasmac workers to collect Rs 10 extra over MRP,” he said. Energy and law minister CTR Nirmal Kumar said the MRP violation became a raging issue only after it was fixed at Rs 10 and read the govt’s submission before the Madras high court about illegal bars.DMK MLA EV Velu said only eligible persons were granted licence to set up liquor manufacturing units.
