TN Govt's liquor policy ruining lives of people: AAP leader

Seeking to make liquor abuse a political issue in the Lok Sabha elections, Aam Aadmi Party leader Prashant Bhushan today alleged a nexus between some politicians and distilleries for the flourishing IMFL sales by the state-owned TASMAC which has "ruined" lives of people.
The revenue from liquor outlets run by Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) increased from Rs 3,639 crore to Rs 21,680 crore in the last nine years, signifying huge increase in alcohol addiction in the state, he told reporters.
He alleged there was a nexus between some politicians and distilleries that supplied alcoholic beverages to TASMAC and also said that most bars in the state were owned by members of certain political parties.

"The protests of many social organisations (demanding prohibition) have been in vain primarily because certain leaders have been focusing on filling up the wallets of their party people rather than the welfare of the people," he said.
Stating that the increase in revenue signified the rate of increase of alcohol addiction within a decade, he said, "This has become most important problem for women in Tamil Nadu."
"TASMAC signifies how people's lives are being ruined to favour the profit of partymen," he said, adding liquor had become a major socio-political economic problem in the state.
The State had gone beyond all possible ways to promote alcohol against Article 47 of the Directive Principles of the Constitution over the last decade.

AAP had extended support for anti-liquor crusader Sasi Perumal, when he fasted for a month seeking total prohibition recently.