CHENNAI: Two days after anti-liquor crusader Sasi Perumal died during a protest in Marthandam, DMK leader M Karunanidhi on Sunday urged the Tamil Nadu government to announce total prohibition in the state immediately, before it claims any more lives.

The DMK leader said his recent statement that his party was committed to introduce total prohibition if it was elected to power was in the backdrop of growing public sentiments. “However, given the recent developments across the state, there seems to be no other alternative than to implement total prohibition,” Karunanidhi said in a statement.

Around thousand Tasmac outlets were functioning near educational and religious institutions, he said.

The DMK chief said Perumal’s death had triggered protests in the state and his family also had joined agitations seeking prohibition.

He said MDMK leader Vaiko’s mother Mariammal (94) had launched a protest at Kalingapatti in Tiruvelveli district while an indefinite hunger strike was held in Salem. Perumal’s relatives, including his widow and children, participated in the fast in Salem.

He said MDMK, VCK and MMK had called for the support of other political parties, traders and the public for a state-wide bandh on August 4. The Left parties had extended support for the same, and BJP leader Pon Radhakrishnan had also sought prohibition, he said.

So the government should implement total prohibition considering the growing public sentiments against liquor, he added.

Sasi Perumal (59) died while holding a protest in front of a Tasmac shop at Marthandam on Friday.

READ ALSO: Tamil Nadu police detain late Gandhian Sasi Perumal's 10-year-old daughter, other anti-liquor protesters

