Edappadi K Palaniswami, the general secretary of the AIADMK, lambasted MK Stalin on Tuesday for deaths allegedly caused by drinking spurious alcohol and demanded that the chief minister step down.
“There has been no stringent action against those selling spurious liquor. DMK members themselves are selling spurious liquor. CM MK Stalin must take responsibility for recent spurious liquor-related deaths and should resign,” Palaniswami said addressing a press conference here. Several persons who have consumed the spurious liquor are battling for their lives in hospital , he said adding that such incidents are sad and painful.
“Stalin is a puppet CM who doesn’t care about the welfare of the people of the state,” the AIADMK leader said.
In Chengalpattu, there were five fatalities, while 13 people had died and over 50 had been negatively impacted in the village of Marakkanam from consuming fake alcohol. “Such occurrences are extremely heartbreaking and distressing,” he said. “DMK M K Stalin government hasn’t established any social welfare programmes in two years.
Palaniswami alleged, “During the AIADMK government everything was controlled. We took strict action against spurious liquor smuggling.”
“Now after this incident they (DMK government has acted). This shows the police knows the details of the spurious liquor sellers but only took action after the unfortunate incident. They have registered 2000 cases,” he alleged adding that the chief minister should take responsibility and resign.
Police said the total number of people who died after a group of people on Saturday evening consumed illicit liquor in the Ekkiyarkuppam fishing hamlet of Marakkanam in the district had gone up to 13.The deceased have been identified as Shankar, Suresh, Dharanivel, Rajamoorthy, Vijayan, Mannakatti, Malarvizli, Abhiragam, Kesava Velu, Shankar, Vijayan, Raja Velu and Sarath Kumar.