: Tamil Nadu Toddy Movement (TTM) today charged both the ruling AIADMK and opposition DMK of going back on their promises to lift the ban on toddy and using it as a political tool to get farmers' votes.
When the movement decided to sell toddy during the World Tamil Chemmozhi Conference in Coimbatore some seven years ago, the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had stated that toddy was important, promised to consider their demand and sought their cooperation to conduct the conference successfully, TTM secretary, S Nallasamy said.
The present Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had also promised to lift the ban on toddy during her election campaign in Pollachi in 2011, he said.
Both had failed to keep their promises on the issue, Nallasamy said.
MDMK leader Vaiko who had initially supported the toddy movement, had termed toddy as liqor after the death of Gandhian Sasi Perumal.
Even BJP state president, Tamilisai Soundarajan, who participated in various programs organised by the movement, was now demanding total prohibition.
Charging political parties with not coming forward to take up the challenge to prove toddy as a liquor, he said both the ruling party and recognised parties had not come forward with their replies.
All the parties which would face elections should respond to the challenge of the movement or otherwise face the consequences, Nallasamy said.
