Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai requests CBI enquiry into Kallakurichi hooch tragedy

Kallakurichi (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 20 : Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting a CBI enquiry into the deaths caused by illicit liquor in Kallakurichi.
Annamalai on Thursday accused the ruling DMK government of involvement in the Kallakurichi illicit liquor death incident, alleging collusion between DMK members and local liquor sellers.
His comments come after a hooch tragedy took place in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi on Wednesday in which several people reportedly lost their lives.
"We want to inform your good office that a similar incident that occurred in May 2023 in Marakkanam of Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district and Chengalpattu district claimed 23 precious lives. In the past two years, Tamil Nadu has lost over 60 lives to hooch because of the ineffective governance of the DMK government," he said in a letter to the Union Home Minister.
He mentioned that as per his reliable sources that the production and sale of illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu is happening at the behest of party functionaries and cadres belonging to the DMK, where points of sale of such liquor are located near judicial courts, police stations, and other government offices.
The families of the deceased in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy claim that the sale of illicit liquor happened in the prime areas of the town.
"It is evident that the sale of illicit liquor is done in full public view with the knowledge of the local police, who operate under the direction of local political leaders belonging to the DMK.
Considering the dire state of governance in Tamil Nadu under the DMK rule, on behalf of BJP Tamil Nadu, we kindly request your good office to order a CBI enquiry on this matter as we firmly believe that the DMK Government will curtail the State Police's from bringing all the persons responsible for the deaths before the court of law," he said in the letter.
He said that the BJP party has met all those family members who had lost their loved ones after consuming illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district and added that the Tamil Nadu BJP will provide Rs 1 lakh to each affected family member.
"The death toll is expected to rise. In the last 4 hours, we have visited all houses. Tamil Nadu BJP is releasing Rs 1 lakhs each to the families of the deceased," he said.
He said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Health Minister JP Nadda had called in the morning to inquire about the Kallakurichi illicit liquor death incident and had asked us to submit a report on it.
"This morning, Amith Shah and JP Nadda called and inquired about the incident and asked us to submit a report on it... Our first appeal to Amith Shah is to initiate a CBI enquiry on this Kallakurichi illicit liquor death incident ...Illicit liquor is being sold near court, police station," he said.
"A committee led by our senior vice-president will visit all homes here. They will submit report on one Central scheme which should reach these houses," he said.
He also took a swipe at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, saying that the CM should meet the affected people and not send just his son Udhayanidhi Stalin.
He also said that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin, in his 2021 election manifesto, said liquor sales will be decreased in Tamil Nadu in a phased manner; however, contrary to that, sales of liquor in Tamil Nadu are increasing by 18 to 20 per cent every year.
"CM, in his 2021 election manifesto, said liquor sales will be decreased in Tamil Nadu in a phased manner. But 18 to 20 per cent of sales of liquor in Tamil Nadu are increasing year by year... From the DMK side, it is deeply disappointing that CM MK Stalin has yet to come to Kallakurichi but he is sending his son Udhayandihi Stalin. Even in such a time, he wants to do dynastic politics," he said.
He also demanded that Tamil Nadu CM Stalin visit Kalalakaruchi immediately and sack the Minister for Prohibition and Excise in the next 24 hours.
"We demand the CM visit Kalalakaruchi immediately and sack the Minister for Prohibition and Excise in the next 24 hours. This is a clear administrative and law and order failure," he said.