<p>The death of Gandhian activist Sasi Perumal during a protest against a state-run liquor outlet is snowballing into a major political issue with DMK and PMK demanding a judicial probe and other parties, including Vaiko-led MDMK, calling for a bandh on August 4.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The demand for the dry law was given an intense push by almost all Opposition parties after the death of 59-year-old Sasi Perumal, who had been campaigning for a total prohibition in Tamil Nadu in the past several years.<br /><br />"The AIADMK regime should own up responsibility for Sasi Perumal's death and for the people to know the full information, it will only be appropriate to hold a judicial inquiry headed by a judge of the high court," DMK President M Karunanidhi said in a statement.<br />The activist had climbed a 120-feet mobile phone tower in Kanyakumari district demanding closure of a liquor outlet near an educational institute but collapsed during the more than five-hour long stir and declared brought dead at a hospital.<br /><br />"A probe by a sitting High Court Judge should be ordered. A solatium of Rs 50 lakh should be given to Sasi Perumal's family. A government job must be given to a person from his family," PMK chief Ramadoss said in a statement.<br /><br />Upping the ante over the issue, MDMK leader Vaiko, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi President Thol Thirumavalavan and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi President Jawahirullah gave a call for a dawn-to-dusk bandh on August 4, which received instant support from BJP, CPI-M and CPI.<br /><br />In a joint statement, they said that the state government should come forward for closure of liquor shops as demanded by Sasi Perumal.<br /><br />"While traders have called for bandh in Kanyakumari district on August 4, we also request political parties, public welfare associations, students and womens to stage a state-wide bandh on the same day," it said.<br /><br />BJP Tamil Nadu unit President Tamilisai Soundararajan, CPI(M) State Secretary G Ramakrishnan, CPI State Secretary R Mutharasan said their parties will support the bandh call.<br /><br />In Coimbatore, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishan said the state government should come forward to announce prohibition as a mark of respect to the Gandhian.<br /><br />Stating that almost all political parties in the state were in favour of prohibition, he said that banning liquor would make lakhs of women very happy.<br /><br />TNCC president EVKS Elangovan alleged negligence on the part of officials for the death of Sasi Perumal, who had given advance intimation about his protest.<br /><br />Officials should have prevented Sasi Perumal from climbing the tower or they must have brought him down, he said.<br /><br />"It is possible to bring in prohibition, as there was total prohibition during Congress rule in Tamil Nadu (till 1967)," he reminded.<br /><br />As a mark of respect to Sasi Perumal, party flags will fly half mast in all Congress offices in the state for three days, he said. </p>
<p>The death of Gandhian activist Sasi Perumal during a protest against a state-run liquor outlet is snowballing into a major political issue with DMK and PMK demanding a judicial probe and other parties, including Vaiko-led MDMK, calling for a bandh on August 4.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The demand for the dry law was given an intense push by almost all Opposition parties after the death of 59-year-old Sasi Perumal, who had been campaigning for a total prohibition in Tamil Nadu in the past several years.<br /><br />"The AIADMK regime should own up responsibility for Sasi Perumal's death and for the people to know the full information, it will only be appropriate to hold a judicial inquiry headed by a judge of the high court," DMK President M Karunanidhi said in a statement.<br />The activist had climbed a 120-feet mobile phone tower in Kanyakumari district demanding closure of a liquor outlet near an educational institute but collapsed during the more than five-hour long stir and declared brought dead at a hospital.<br /><br />"A probe by a sitting High Court Judge should be ordered. A solatium of Rs 50 lakh should be given to Sasi Perumal's family. A government job must be given to a person from his family," PMK chief Ramadoss said in a statement.<br /><br />Upping the ante over the issue, MDMK leader Vaiko, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi President Thol Thirumavalavan and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi President Jawahirullah gave a call for a dawn-to-dusk bandh on August 4, which received instant support from BJP, CPI-M and CPI.<br /><br />In a joint statement, they said that the state government should come forward for closure of liquor shops as demanded by Sasi Perumal.<br /><br />"While traders have called for bandh in Kanyakumari district on August 4, we also request political parties, public welfare associations, students and womens to stage a state-wide bandh on the same day," it said.<br /><br />BJP Tamil Nadu unit President Tamilisai Soundararajan, CPI(M) State Secretary G Ramakrishnan, CPI State Secretary R Mutharasan said their parties will support the bandh call.<br /><br />In Coimbatore, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishan said the state government should come forward to announce prohibition as a mark of respect to the Gandhian.<br /><br />Stating that almost all political parties in the state were in favour of prohibition, he said that banning liquor would make lakhs of women very happy.<br /><br />TNCC president EVKS Elangovan alleged negligence on the part of officials for the death of Sasi Perumal, who had given advance intimation about his protest.<br /><br />Officials should have prevented Sasi Perumal from climbing the tower or they must have brought him down, he said.<br /><br />"It is possible to bring in prohibition, as there was total prohibition during Congress rule in Tamil Nadu (till 1967)," he reminded.<br /><br />As a mark of respect to Sasi Perumal, party flags will fly half mast in all Congress offices in the state for three days, he said. </p>