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Karunanidhi rules out total prohibition

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today ruled out imposition of total prohibition in the state, asserting that neither the dry law nor total relaxation would help to eradicate the menace of illicit liquor.

Replying to a special mention by Dr E S S Raman (TMC) and others in the state assembly on the recent Putlur hooch tragedy, which claimed 12 lives, he said while some members suggested that the government impose total prohibition, others favoured total relaxation to prevent such deaths. However, neither would succeed, he added.

"I am of the view that neither total prohibition nor total relaxation would help to solve the problem unless the public extend their fullest cooperation to the government", he said.

The government would continue with the present partial prohibition policy, he said, and warned that stern action would be taken against bootleggers and police who lent covert support to the illicit trade.

UNI

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