Tasmac shops reopen in Tamil Nadu, opposition parties slam CM MK Stalin and DMK

Tamil Nadu has reopened Tasmac outlets, the state government-owned liquor shops, after a gap of more than a month as part of several relaxations of Covid-19 restrictions and the move has created a political storm with opposition parties accusing the government of double standard.

Tasmac shops have been allowed to operate in 27 districts from 10 am to 5 pm. In 11 districts, including Coimbatore, Salem, Thanjavur, Erode, Tiruppur, with high Covid-19 caseloads, they will remain closed.

#TASMAC shops reopened in Tamil Nadu today as part of the new relaxations announced by the state government. The shops will function from 10 am till 5pm. Police personnel have been deployed outside each outlet to monitor the crowds. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/UotzxBjj28

— Janardhan Koushik (@koushiktweets) June 14, 2021

While the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) under Chief Minister MK Stalin cited smuggling and rise in illicit liquor for reopening Tasmac, the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) questioned the move. AIADMK said DMK had opposed the decision to open liquor shops when it was in power during the first wave of the pandemic and that too when there were far fewer cases in the state. AIADMK tweeted a video of Stalin holding placards and raising slogans like “whether Tasmac is required when people are dying of infections, do not open liquor stores that will cause law and order problems” and asked the chief minister what his answers to these slogans are now.

தமிழக அரசே மதுக்கடைகளை இழுத்து மூடு!

தேவையா தேவையா கொள்ளை நோயில் மக்களெல்லாம் சாகும் போது மதுக்கடைகள் தேவையா?

சட்டம் ஒழுங்கு, மக்கள் வாழ்வை சீர்குலைக்கும் மதுக்கடைகளை திறக்காதே!

எல்லாம் நீங்கள் எழுப்பிய கோஷம்தான் @mkstalin இதற்கு உங்கள் பதில் என்ன?#குடிகெடுக்கும்_ஸ்டாலின் pic.twitter.com/wFBfRSlEw2

— AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) June 12, 2021

On Sunday, BJP state president L Murugan staged a protest in Chennai against Tasmac reopening. He said liquor shops should be closed forever.

BJP leaders opposing TASMACs. (Express Photo)

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader S Ramadoss, who had been calling for total prohibition in the state, condemned the decision to reopen Tasmac shops. He said the government is providing Rs 2,000 as Covid-19 aid through one hand and then taking the money back by reopening liquor stores.

கொரோனாவால் அன்றைய நிலையில் நாளொன்றுக்கு 600 பேர்களுக்கு குறைவாக பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருந்த போதே டாஸ்மாக் மதுக்கடைகளை திறக்கும் நடவடிக்கையை எதிர்த்த நீங்கள், இன்றைக்கு 8500 பேர்களுக்கு மேல் பாதிப்படைந்துள்ள நிலையில் மதுக்கடைகளை திறக்க ஆணையிட்டிருப்பது ஏன்? சொல்லுங்க @mkstalin கேட்போம். https://t.co/dmY33qIOdV pic.twitter.com/kTdnqnv02h

— AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) June 12, 2021

Meanwhile, in a video statement on Monday, Chief Minister MK Stalin said the decision was taken despite knowing that there will be criticism. He said the shops need to follow Covid-19 guidelines.

As per the guidelines, wholesale purchase of liquor is not permitted. A maximum of five persons will be allowed to enter a shop at a time. Tokens are provided to the customers with the date and time. The shop managers have been instructed to make sure there is social distancing among the customers. Sanitisers are kept at each store, masks have been made mandatory for both Tasmac workers and customers to buy the liquor. Shops are instructed to spray disinfectant around the premises before opening and after sales every day.

The Chennai police commissioner Shankar Jiwal on Sunday chaired a meeting with the Tasmac director and other senior officials to review the preparatory measures taken by the department ahead of the reopening.