Premalatha Vijayakanth Criticizes State Government Over TASMAC and Illicit Liquor Issues

DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth voiced strong criticisms against the Tamil Nadu government on the quality of TASMAC liquor and the rise in illicit liquor consumption, during her visit to Coimbatore on June 30.


Coimbatore: In a press meet held today in Coimbatore, DMDK General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth strongly condemned the Tamil Nadu government’s handling of TASMAC liquor quality and the rampant issue of illicit liquor. Addressing journalists, she highlighted her concerns over the nutritional assistance and other philanthropic activities her party involves in, but quickly turned her address to more pressing state-wide issues.

“The state has seen too many deaths due to illicit liquor consumption, most recently in Kallakurichi where 69 lives were lost. This is due to the poor quality of liquor available through TASMAC outlets encouraging people to turn towards dangerous alternatives,” Premalatha asserted. She accused a senior minister of trivializing the matter in the State Assembly, criticizing the government's lax stance on controlling the quality of beverages sold.

“These statements from our leaders show a grave disregard for public safety and welfare. The government boasts about revenue from TASMAC but at what cost? Our duty is to provide safe, controlled environments, not drive them towards harmful substances,” she added.



Debating on the upcoming legislative sessions, Vijayakanth’s wife challenged the minister's earlier remarks in the assembly about the lack of 'kick' in TASMAC liquor, which she claims plays a role in driving the poor towards illicit alternatives. She passionately voiced the need for a radical change in policy and governance to address these life-threatening issues effectively.

Furthermore, responding to the recent tragic events related to illicit liquor, Premalatha called for an extensive review and strict regulation of all alcohol-related policies in Tamil Nadu, emphasizing the dire need to protect its citizens from these hazardous pitfalls.

“Each preventable death is a stain on our conscience. We need accountability and decisive action, not just empty words and temporary compensations,” she concluded forcefully.

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