Vanathi blames DMK govt for illicit liquor deaths in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan on Monday blamed the DMK government and the state police for the deaths caused by spurious alcohol in Villupuram and Chengalpet districts.
In a statement, Vanathi said, "Whenever the demand to ban liquor is placed before the government, the usual reply will be that if liquor is banned, the sale of illicit arrack will increase. Now, even though there is no ban on liquor and liquor is freely available, people have consumed spurious alcohol and died. The DMK government and the state police are responsible for the deaths."
Vanathi said poverty was the reason for people consuming illicit arrack. "When the state government is selling liquor, what will be the reason for people consuming spurious liquor? Poverty is the major reason for people consuming illicit liquor and so the state government should take steps to eradicate poverty and ban liquor in a phased manner," said Vanathi.
Hooch claimed the lives of 10 people in Villupuram district and five others in Chengalpet district. Chief minister M K Stalin visited people who were admitted to Villupuram government hospital after consuming illicit arrack.