Jayalalithaa promises prohibition in phases

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa on Saturday promised introduction of liquor prohibition in the state in phases if her AIADMK is voted back to power.

Kickstarting her election campaign here, Jayalalithaa, also the AIADMK general secretary, said it is not possible to prohibit liquor sales in the state with one single signature and has to be done step by step.

Addressing a massive public rally held at the Island Grounds here, she said: "If AIADMK comes back to power then prohibition will be introduced in phases. The timing of the liquor shops will be reduced, the bars will be closed, rehabilitation centres will be opened and the number of liquor outlets will be reduced."

She charged DMK president M.Karunanidhi for lifting prohibition in 1971 and introducing liquor to a generation that did not know about the drink.

Karunanidhi does not have any right to speak about prohibition, she said.

She also introduced her party's 21 candidates standing for election in the assembly constituencies here and surrounding places.