R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, MAY 10
Superstar Rajinikanth rallied behind Kamal Hassan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam and warned the ruling AIADMK against reopening state-run liquor outlets in the state, saying if it was done, it should not harbour “dreams” of coming to power again, apparently in next year’s Assembly elections.
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
In a tweet, he also asked the government to work out alternate modes of revenue generation instead of opening TASMAC outlets.
His remarks came a day after Tamil Nadu moved the Supreme Court, seeking a stay against a Madras High Court order directing closure of liquor shops in the state.
The AIADMK cannot have “dreams of coming to power again if the government reopens TASMAC shops at this juncture,” the actor said in the tweet. “Please #Look out for better ways of filling the coffers,” he added.
The Tamil Nadu government had on Saturday moved the apex court challenging the High Court order for closure of TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation) liquor outlets on grounds of violations of COVID-19 guidelines, arguing that it would lead to “grave losses” in revenue and a complete halt in commercial activities.
The Madras High Court had on Friday ordered the closure of liquor outlets in the state, noting there were huge crowds and no social distancing was being maintained by tipplers.
The court however, allowed doorstep delivery of booze through online mode. The Tamil Nadu government, in its appeal on Saturday, termed the HC order a case of “judicial overreach” and said online sale and home delivery of alcohol were not possible in the entire state.
It was Kamal Hassan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam who approached the Madras High Court to restrain the state government from opening TASMAC amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The principal opposition party, DMK and its allies wore black shirts to show their protest against the government’s decision on opening TASMAC shops.
Opposition parties including the DMK had earlier welcomed the High Court order directing closure of the TASMAC outlets.
It may be recalled that Jayalalithaa lost the 1996 assembly election when people heeded the Rajini’s call that ‘if she comes to power again, even god cannot save TN”
