TN for total prohibition if Centre implements it: Veerasamy

Chennai, Mar 26 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu government was not averse to introducing total prohibition in the state if the Centre came forward to implement it across the country, Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy told the State Assembly today.

Responding to Mr Raja (PMK), who raised the issue during the debate on the budget, he said if the Centre implemented total prohibition across the country, the state government was not averse to implementing it in the state.

Asserting that the opening of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) shops had resulted in eradication of illicit liquor menace, Mr Veerasamy said if the TASMAC shops were closed, it would lead to proliferation of illicit arrack and several people would end up in jails.

When the PMK member insisted that the government should close down the TASMAC liquor outlets and direct the district collectors and the Superintendents of Police to take steps to curb illicit arrack menace, Mr Veerasamy reiterated that only because of the opening of TASMAC shops, there was no illicit liquor menace in the state.

''If the PMK MP and Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss can convince Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to introduce total prohibition in India, then the Tamil Nadu government will also do so'', he added.

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