NE LEGAL BUREAU
NEW DELHI, MAY 10
A day after Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court, seeking a stay against a Madras High Court order directing closure of liquor shops in the state, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) Chief Kamal Haasan slammed the ruling AIADMK and said the state government was knocking on the doors of the Supreme Court stating that “gamble with the lives of the people and the mangalsutras of Tamil women,.” a release from the party said.
The actor-turned-politician, in a tweet, added that his party would move the Supreme Court to thwart the government’s attempts to re-open the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) liquor shops.
“People justice shall triumph,” Haasan said.
குடிகாரனுக்கு வாழ்க்கைப்பட்ட தமிழ் பெண்களின் தாலிகளோடு, குடிக்காத தமிழர்களின் உயிரையும் பணயம் வைத்து, சூதாட அனுமதி கேட்டு உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் செல்லுமாம்
தமிழக அரசு.
எங்கும் வருவோம் உமைத் தடுக்க.
மக்கள் நீதியே வெல்லும்.— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) May 9, 2020
Earlier in the day, superstar Rajinikanth had also warned the ruling AIADMK against reopening state-run liquor outlets in Tamil Nadu, saying if it was done, it should not harbour “dreams” of coming to power again, apparently in next year’s Assembly elections. In a tweet, he also asked the government to work out alternate modes of revenue generation.
இந்த நேரத்தில் அரசு டாஸ்மாக் கடைகளை மறுபடி திறந்தால் மீண்டும் ஆட்சிக்கு வரும் கனவை மறந்து விட வேண்டும். தயவுகூர்ந்து #கஜானாவை_நிரப்ப_நல்ல_வழிகளை_பாருங்கள்
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) May 10, 2020
The Tamil Nadu government had on Saturday moved the Supreme Court challenging a Madras High Court order for closure of state-run liquor outlets on the ground that there was total violation of guidelines meant to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
In its petition, the government said that if the shops are kept closed, people would rather go to neighbouring states to buy liquor and also assured that police is ensuring social distancing norms aren’t flouted.
The Madras High Court had on Friday ordered closure of liquor outlets noting that there were huge crowds and no social distancing was being maintained. It, however, allowed doorstep delivery of booze through online mode.
The top court, too, had taken note of crowding at liquor shops and asked states on Friday to consider non-direct contact or online sales and home delivery of liquor during the lockdown period to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The high court order restraining counter-sale of liquor was passed on a petition filed by advocate G Rajesh, besides a complaint from the Kamal Haasan-led Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM).
