A group of Gandhians, 20 in number, is doing its bit campaigning for total prohibition and against cash-for-votes.
Through its Kanyakumari-Chennai yatra, the team throws light on the spiralling ill-effects the money-spinning Tasmac has brought to poverty-stricken families.
Headed by Tamil Nadu Sarvodaya Mandal vice-president V.Vivekanandan, the members launched their campaign in Shengottah on Friday and arrived in Madurai on Saturday. “Their 10-day yatra is aimed at sensitising the public against liquor consumption and mobilising support for total prohibition from both the voters and the candidates,” says Mr Vivekanandan.
Planning to cover all important towns in the state, the Gandhians are going about meeting people and making fervent appeals to them to extract an assurance from candidates to vouch for bringing in prohibition.
Expressing concern over the increasing number of families getting affected by the drinking habit, Mr Vivekanandan said, “It is the root of all social evils and even children are taking to liquor because of its easy availability. Enforcement of prohibition will help augment family income besides bringing about peace and happiness.”
This apart, the Gandhians are also creating awareness among the public about the importance of voting and not to sell their votes by explaining that getting bribed for casting their franchise would enslave their independent spirit.
They also have a plea to the contestants in electoral fray: to develop patriotic spirit and involve in selfless service and read Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography `The Story of My Experiments with Truth’ before entering the portals of the state assembly.