Tamil Nadu Govt Tables Bill To Amend State Prohibition Act In Assembly

A bill was introduced in the Tamil Nadu State Assembly to amend Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937, aiming to impose stricter punishments for various offences related to illicit liquor. The proposed amendments address import, export, transport, possession, manufacture, bottling, and consumption of illicit liquor.

At the Assembly, Chief Minister MK Stalin emphasized the government's commitment to eradicating illicit liquor in response to the recent Kallakurichi incident where several lives were lost due to illicit liquor consumption. He assured the Assembly that those responsible for the incident have been arrested and that the government is taking strong measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

"The government is not hiding anything and we have arrested people in connection with the Kallakurichi incident. This government is determined to eliminate illicit liquor. After the Kallakurichi incident, I had a meeting with collectors and police officials. I had said in that meeting that if any life is lost in the future, the Police Inspector and the district superintendent of police will be responsible," CM Stalin stated.

He added, "We are taking all steps to reduce illicit liquor in our state. I appeal to everyone to keep politics aside and work unitedly to eradicate drugs in Tamil Nadu."

Earlier, AIADMK was suspended from the Assembly for entire Assembly session for creating a ruckus over the tragedy.

On Friday, the death toll from Kallakurichi hooch tragedy increased to 65, following the death of another individual at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry.