Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan has slammed the recent discussions around alcohol prohibition in Tamil Nadu, calling it a “well-executed drama” orchestrated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol. Thirumavalavan. The remarks came ahead of the VCK’s anti-liquor conference, set to be held on October 2 in Kallakurichi.Speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport on Tuesday, Murugan alleged that the prohibition narrative was a diversionary tactic to deflect from the Tamil Nadu government’s perceived failures, particularly the recent U.S. trip undertaken by CM Stalin to attract foreign investments. According to Murugan, the trip did not yield the expected results, and the prohibition talks were an attempt to shift the public’s focus.
“To cleverly hide the failure of the U.S. trip to woo investors and to avoid answering any questions about it, CM Stalin has joined hands with Thirumavalavan to pull off this drama about prohibition,” Murugan said. He added that the issue of alcohol prohibition should be genuinely implemented rather than being used as a political tool to distract the public.
The issue of alcohol prohibition has long been a contentious topic in Tamil Nadu politics, with various parties taking stands on the regulation of liquor sales. The DMK government has been criticized in the past for its revenue reliance on TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation) liquor sales, even as calls for prohibition have gained traction among certain sections of the population.
VCK leader Thirumavalavan, who has been vocal about social issues including caste-based discrimination, has also taken up the mantle of fighting for prohibition, culminating in the upcoming conference on Gandhi Jayanti, a day symbolically linked to Mahatma Gandhi’s own advocacy for alcohol prohibition.
Murugan, however, cast doubt on Thirumavalavan’s motivations, claiming that the VCK leader is “taking a cue from the chief minister” to mislead the public. Despite criticizing the political motivations behind the conference, Murugan asserted that prohibition should indeed be a priority for the state but accused the DMK and its allies of merely posturing on the issue.
In a surprising pivot during his remarks, L Murugan also took a jab at actor-turned-politician Vijay, who has been making headlines with his political aspirations. Murugan accused Vijay of not being an “unbiased politician” and questioned his failure to extend greetings to the public on Vinayaga Chaturthi, an important Hindu festival.
“Vijay, who did not bother to wish the public for Vinayaga Chaturthi, may not be an unbiased politician after all,” Murugan said.