Tamil Nadu - Others   

Toddy tappers' outfit to fight DMK, AIADMK

Staff Reporter

Demonstrations in front of all TASMAC retail outlets planned

KARUR: The Tamil Nadu Toddy Movement has threatened to put up over 1,000 candidates in constituencies where the AIADMK general secretary, Jayalalithaa, and the DMK president M. Karunanidhi are contesting from in the coming Assembly elections, if their demand for allowing toddy tapping is not met before elections.

Addressing the media here on Saturday, the Tamil Nadu Toddy Movement State coordinator, C. Nallasamy, however observed that the movement per se was not against prohibition, but was only against selective prohibition in banning toddy tapping and allowing IMFL sale.

Coming down heavily on the DMK and the AIADMK for "throttling the toddy tappers and coconut farmers", Mr. Nallasamy said the members of the Movement would stage protest demonstrations in front of all TASMAC retail outlets all over the State and was also contemplating defying law to tap toddy, if the Government does not allow toddy tapping.

The last resort would be to put up at least 1,000 candidates in the constituencies from where Ms. Jayalalithaa and Mr. Karunanidhi were contesting the Assembly polls to draw their attention to the plight of toddy tappers, Mr. Nallasamy said.

Countering the claim that every palmyrah or coconut tree would be an industry in case tapping was allowed and hence called necessitated impractical regulations or supervision, Mr. Nallasamy questioned how Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka Governments were coping with toddy tapping.

"We want justice to the hapless toddy tappers and nothing more" Mr. Nallsasamy claimed.

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