BJP’s High-Profile Protest Against Tasmac Liquor Policies Leads to Arrests of Annamalai and Tamilisai

In an escalating standoff between Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK and opposition parties, BJP leaders K. Annamalai and Tamilisai Soundararajan were arrested today while leading a protest against the state’s liquor monopoly at the Tasmac headquarters. The protest, aimed at calling for the closure of Tasmac liquor outlets, turned into a major political flashpoint when the police detained the BJP leaders for disrupting public order.

The BJP has long criticized the Tamil Nadu government’s reliance on Tasmac as a major source of revenue, arguing that the state’s heavy dependence on alcohol sales is a misguided and harmful strategy. Annamalai, in his speech before the protest was broken up, stated that the DMK’s policies are pushing the state’s citizens into addiction and poverty.

Tamilisai Soundararajan, who has a history of advocating for social reforms, particularly in the areas of public health, joined Annamalai in calling for the closure of the Tasmac outlets, claiming that the government’s focus on alcohol revenue was putting families at risk.

The arrests have sparked outrage within the BJP ranks, with many party members accusing the state government of stifling political dissent. While the DMK has defended its liquor policies, arguing that the revenue generated from Tasmac is essential for funding welfare programs, the BJP has vowed to keep up the pressure on the ruling party.