Deadline is over; how many Tasmac shops have been closed by Vijay govt, Anbumani asks

CHENNAI: PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss has expressed deep disappointment over reports suggesting that the majority of liquor shops ordered to be closed by chief minister C Joseph Vijay have not been shut down. He demanded that the Tamil Nadu govt officially clarify exactly how many shops were closed within the designated deadline and ensure they would not be relocated to other neighbourhoods.

He said on May 12, Vijay issued an order directing the closure of all liquor outlets operating within 500 metres of educational institutions, places of worship, and heavily crowded public areas like bus stands within a two-week time frame. The mandate specifically targeted a total of 717 shops across the state, Anbumani said.

“The two-week deadline set by chief minister Vijay expired on May 26. Most of the liquor shops have still not been closed. In numerous localities, these outlets continue to actively operate close to schools and places of worship, disrupting the public. This cannot be tolerated," Anbumani stated.

In a statement earlier, Anbumani urged both the Union and state govts to intervene to curb skyrocketing fertiliser prices. He revealed that external geopolitical conflicts have triggered a massive spike in manufacturing raw materials, pushing fertiliser prices up by as much as 47% in Tamil Nadu.