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Cheers! Jayalalithaa joins prohibition bandwagon. But can she afford it?

S Murari | Updated on: 10 February 2017, 1:50 IST

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday promised to introduce prohibition in phases if her party was voted to back in the Assembly elections.

Launching a high-voltage campaign from Chennai at a massive rally in Island Grounds, Jayalalithaa said prohibition could not be introduced overnight as a whole generation had got used to liquor since the ban was lifted in August 1971 by DMK leader and then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Prohibition has become a key issue in this election with liquor sales having touched high of over Rs 25,000 crore a year and with the government controlling the entire retail distribution of Indian Made Foreign Liquor.

It is this revenue which has helped the AIADMK government give 20 kg rice a month per family free of cost and continue with other freebies like mixies, grinders, electric fans, laptops and so on.

Attacking Karunanidhi

Introducing candidates from Chennai and two neighbouring districts at the meeting, Jayalalithaa made a blistering attack on Karunandhi.

“Anyone can talk about prohibition. But not Karunanidhi. His advocacy of total prohibition is akin to Satan quoting scriptures,” she said.

She pointed out that prohibition was first introduced in Salem when Rajaji was Prime Minister of the Madras presidency in 1937. It was later extended to the whole of Tamil Nadu after independence.

Karunanidhi advocating prohibition is like Satan quoting scriptures: Jayalalithaa

When Karunandhi, as Chief Minister, decided to lift prohibition in August 1971, Rajaji went to his house in pouring rain and pleaded with him to reconsider. He told him that an entire generation had gone by since the introduction of prohibition. If it was lifted now, it would be expose the coming generation to the evil.

She said that Karunanidhi refused to listen to Rajaji and said sarcastically, “ It’s not as though only the drunk beat their wives”.

Prohibition politics

Jayalalithaa however glossed over subsequent events and how prohibition got linked to the fluctuating fortunes of major parties.

Karunanidhi reintroduced prohibition in 1973 after a series of electoral reverses. Anna DMK founder MG Ramachandran, having come to power on the plank of fighting corruption and liquor, introduced total prohibition in 1977.

However in 1980, MGR went to the other extreme and opened liquor shops to fund his vote-catching noon meal scheme for schoolchildren. The scheme was an outstanding success. But there was no going back to prohibition after that.

When she first came to power in 1991, the first file Jayalalithaa signed was on re-introduction of prohibition. She mentioned that in her speech. However, she forgot how her government took a U-turn and took over the entire wholesale and retail distribution of IMFL.

In Tamil Nadu, liquor consumption contributes Rs 27,000 crore as revenue

The government actively encouraged liquor consumption. As per estimates, there are at least 6,000 liquor shops and bars all over Tamil Nadu. Liquor consumption has touched a new high and contributes Rs 27,000 crore as revenue.

It was the Pattali Makkal Katchi which made prohibition a main plank in this election as women were all for it, regardless of whether it was enforceable or not.

Not to be left behind, Karunanidhi also promised, though in a tongue-in-cheek manner, that he would also introduce prohibition if voted to power.

Jayalalithaa latched on to that remark to lambast him. 

The plan

However, criticising Karunanidhi is the easier part.

Jayalalithaa said it was not possible to introduce prohibition overnight.

She said that the number of liquor shops and government-run bars would be reduced and their working hours would be reduced. Simultaneously de-addiction centres would be opened all over the State.

This phased model of prohibition is similar to the policy introduced by the Oommen Chandy government in Kerala last year.

“I am all for prohibition. But I never make tall promises. I shall ponder over the issue and introduce the law in stages,” she said.

Realising that her government’s liquor policy had alienated women, she listed various welfare schemes such as free supply of sanitary napkins to marriage assistance for poor girls, educational assistance and so on.

Jayalalitha’s speech was telecast by Jaya TV, enabling her to reach out to the entire state.

Edited by Aditya Menon

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First published: 10 April 2016, 7:19 IST