COIMBATORE: The hooch tragedy is a murder executed by the DMK as the illicit liquor was sold just 100 metres from the police station and 150 metres from the district court, BJP state unit president K Annamalai told reporters on Saturday.
Annamalai did not take part in a demonstration organised by the party to condemn the state government, but called on over 200 BJP cadre, including Tirupur parliamentary constituency candidate A P Muruganatham, state treasurer S R Sekar and Coimbatore district president J Ramesh Kumar, who had been arrested and detained in a marriage hall for protesting without permission.
Speaking to reporters, Annamalai said, “The DMK government is saying the Dravidian model of governance is superior to other state governments. This hooch tragedy is a shame for the government since it has happened for the second consecutive year. The government is trying to prevent us from exercising our rights in democratically condemning the administration. The DMK was saying that the BJP would change the Constitution if it came to power. However, our constitutional rights of staging a peaceful protest is being prevented by the DMK government. So, which party is against democracy?”
Talking to reporters in The Nilgiris, Minister of State for Ministry of Information and Broadcasting L Murugan said, “Chief Minister MK Stalin should apologise to people and take responsibility for the tragedy. Prohibition and Excise Minister S Muthusamy should resign as the government is inactive in protecting people from illicit liquor.”