Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today alleged DMK chief Karunanidhi had years ago said more quality liquor should be produced and blamed his regime for lifting dry law, affirming that her government was firm in implementing phased prohibition.
Targeting the opposition DMK over prohibition in the Assembly, Jayalalithaa told Excise and Prohibition Minister P Thangamani that he should make it clear that it was Karunanidhi who had lifted dry law in the state as the younger generation was not aware of the whole truth about it.
Replying to the demand for grant to his department, the Minister was tracing the history of prohibition and its relaxation in Tamil Nadu when she intervened.
After her remark, DMK Deputy Leader Duraimurugan urged Speaker P Dhanapal to give him permission to air his views. Dhanapal said he would get his chance after the Minister's reply.
Intervening, Jayalalithaa said in August 1971, Karunanidhi lifted prohibition and shops vending IMFL, arrack and toddy were opened across the state.
"In 2007, when members of several parties said in Tamil Nadu Assembly that illicit liquor should be eradicated the then Chief Minister Karunanidhi had said that illicit liquor cannot be eradicated," she said.
Karunanidhi had also said "if we (the State) have to compete with other countries we should produce more quality alcoholic beverages and through that alone we could win (situation) and there was no other way out considering the present day world culture."
"This is the true opinion of Karunanidhi on prohibition. However, as far as I am concerned, I am firm in phased implementation of prohibition," she said.
She recalled the closure of 500 Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) liquor outlets and reducing working hours of such shops by two hours after she assumed office again this year.
Duraimurugan again urged the Speaker to allow him to speak. The Speaker reiterated that he would get his chance later after the Minister's reply.
Unsatisfied by the Speaker's reply, Duraimurugan led the DMK members in staging a walkout.
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After DMK members walked out, Jayalalithaa said
previously Speaker Dhanapal had to deploy marshals to evict Opposition members who indulged in ruckus.
"Now all that is not necessary. Utterance of two words are sufficient. Mention of Katchatheevu and prohibition are the two things. Opposition members troop out of the House. I have made your job easy," she told the Speaker who thanked her for it.
On her advice to Thangamani to spell out that it was Karunanidhi who had lifted prohibition, she said she had every right to advise her Minister.
Referring to Opposition members who render advice to each other by moving around, she said, she cannot do it.
"I cannot run, sit beside the Minister and render advice. Hence, I gave him my advice through you which is within the rules of the House," she said.
On the twin issues of Katchatheevu and prohibition, sharp exchanges have been witnessed between the ruling AIADMK and Opposition DMK in the past.
Later, Thangamani referred to the DMK's criticism against AIADMK members and said, "a criticism was made, yes we are bound by the love of our Amma (Jayalalithaa), we are slaves to our Amma's love, we are not worried about what they (DMK) say," adding all the 1.5 crore members of AIADMK would carry out her diktat.
Likening them to sepoys in the Army who carry out the orders of superiors faithfully with discipline, he said they were like jawans who carry out the Chief Minister's instructions.
Yesterday, after a ruling party member made the "scarecrow," remark, drawing an angry response from DMK, Leader of Opposition (DMK) M K Stalin made a remark against the ruling party members. Thangamani made the observation referring to Stalin's criticism.
Blaming Karunanidhi regime for relaxing prohibition, he said the DMK chief had even taken jibes at a former woman (Congress) MLA, Ananthanayagi who had stood against relaxation of prohibition in Tamil Nadu. She had said that liquor would affect the oppressed and backward people.
"He (Karunanidhi) however had told her that she cannot deceive him by referring to the oppressed people," the Minister said. He also referred to the opposition from the then allies of DMK like Lathif of IUML against lifting prohibition.
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Asked when Jayalalithaa, who has now spent more than a
month at the hospital, will be discharged, Reddy said it was up to the Chief Minister to decide.
"She will ask us very soon when am I going home. I believe it must be on top of her mind...When to go home is a small thing. These decisions will be made by her and we will coordinate," he said.
"It will be not too long before she sees all of you," he said.
Reddy said the "most important part of the treatment has been very successful" and that Jayalalithaa and her attendants were happy in every respect.
He hailed the team of doctors, saying their combined effort had made "this excellent progress in managing the health of our dear Chief Minister."
He expressed joy over Jayalalithaa's progress and said a big team, including doctors and others, had contributed towards this, adding he was happy to have given Jayalalithaa the "world's best health care facilities."
"You know, the hospital has done some part and millions of people across the nation prayed for her and all those prayers have done (their bit) in bringing the recovery."
"We all must say the prayers and the doctors' team at Apollo and the doctors who visited from AIIMS and England (Richard John Beale)-- all of them have given the best for her recovery today," Reddy said.
AIADMK spokesperson C R Saraswathy also said that Jayalalithaa would return home soon.
The party chief was "taking normal food" three times a day and was doing her chores, she said.
