CHENNAI: DMK today hit back at PMK founder S Ramadoss who accused party chief M Karunanidhi of "ruining generations" by removing prohibition in 1971, saying it was an "outburst" as his "dreams" of making his son Anbumani Chief Minister of the state have been "shattered".
DMK's Principal Secretary, Duraimurugan, asked why Ramadoss had "concealed" facts that Karunanidhi, who originally removed prohibition in 1971, restored it in 1974 and about the AIADMK government under M G Ramachandran later allowing opening of toddy shops.
Yesterday, Ramadoss had said that by removing prohibition in 1971, despite a plea from veteran freedom fighter and Swantantra Party leader C Rajagopalachari against doing so, the DMK chief had "ruined" generations.
Karunanidhi's statement on Monday that if voted to power, he will take steps for implementing prohibition, was done with an eye on Assembly polls, scheduled next year, Ramadoss had said.
"Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) made moving speeches in Assembly and among people on why prohibition was postponed under unavoidable circumstances due to severe financial crunch. However, he implemented prohibition again in 1974 (but) Ramachandran had opened toddy shops in 1981 with AIADMK government allowing private liquor factories in 1982-83," Duraimurugan said.
He questioned why Ramadoss had "concealed" these facts, besides the one about Jayalalithaa government nationalising liquor sales in 2003, and why he was singling out Karunanidhi.
Further, the 2006 DMK government had closed down 1,300 bars, 128 retail liquor sales outlets, ordering shifting of outlets from the vicinity of schools and places of religious worship and finally reducing the business duration by one hour, he said.
"Ramadoss thinks that after Mahatma Gandhi, he is the guardian of prohibition policy. He has a fond hope that he can hold on to this to come to power. He lives in a dream world where his son will become Chief Minister, with his signature implementing prohibition.
"Ramadoss's outburst is a result of Kalaignar shattering all these dreams," Duraimurugan said in a statement.
Karunanidhi's offer to take steps for the implementation of prohibition, if voted to power, has been met with much enthusiasm from various quarters, he claimed.