Intelligence agencies in Tamil Nadu fear a process to destabilise the AIADMK Government led by J Jayalalithaa has been set in motion by some of the major Opposition parties including the DMK and the Congress. The anti-liquor agitation which gathered momentum over the last one week with DMK chief M Karunanidhi too jumping into the fray is seen as a last ditch attempt to tarnish the image of the Government and send signals to prospective investors that the State is not conducive for high level investment. The agitation comes in the backdrop of the Global Investors Meet scheduled for next month.
“There is a discernible pattern in the anti-liquor agitation. Nothing untoward has happened in Tamil Nadu which mandates immediate prohibition. The last two day’s agitation launched under the patronage of political parties like MDMK which fielded students to ransack liquor shops all over the State is part of a well thought out design,” a senior intelligence officer told The Pioneer.
He said the ransacking of TASMAC (State owned) liquor outlets were similar to the 1967 anti-Hindi agitation launched by the DMK against the Centre. “It ultimately led to the fall of the Congress Govt and the rise of DMK as a major political entity,” said the intelligence officer.
PR Natarajan former Director General of Police, said the anti-liquor campaign is a gimmick by the DMK, Congress and smaller elements who has understood the writing on the wall. “There are many questions unanswered. How is it possible for Tamil Nadu Government alone to bring in prohibitionIJ Does Karunanidhi have an action plan to compensate the revenue loss due to prohibition,” he asked.
Tuesday’s bandh call issued by the MDMK, VCK, the lefts and other fringe political parties ended up as a non-event with the entire trading community ignoring it. CM J Jayalalithaa had convened a meeting of senior administrative and police officers late Monday to take stock of the prevailing situation. Following the meeting, R Viswanathan, Minister for prohibition issued a statement lambasting the Opposition parties spearheading the anti-liquor agitation.
The Minister alleged that were two former Union Ministers from the DMK-owned distilling and bottling units manufacturing Indian-made foreign liquor. “There are many distillery units in Tamil Nadu owned by former DMK Ministers in the Union Cabinet. Vaiko’s son Durai has invested heavily in a tobacco unit. How can Karunanidhi ask for total prohibition in the State when his own colleagues in the party are distilling illicit liquorIJ” asked Viswanathan.