T.N. Assembly election: AIADMK will wipe out ganja from the State within three months of returning to power, says EPS

Within three months of returning to power, the AIADMK government will eradicate ganja from the State, party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said on Tuesday.

He was addressing an election rally in Sivakasi, seeking votes for five AIADMK candidates and two BJP candidates in Virudhunagar district.

Mr. Palaniswami alleged that no place in Tamil Nadu was free from narcotic drugs. “Ganja is available in different forms — such as chocolate, tablets, and liquid. The lives of the members of the public, including school and college students addicted to ganja, are being ruined,” he said.

He added that he had raised the issue of drug abuse in the Assembly several times. “Children are our future. We see their lives being ruined, and to stop these evils, the AIADMK must return to power in Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Reiterating his promise, Mr. Palaniswami said ganja sales would be eradicated within three months if the AIADMK returned to power. “The AIADMK government will ensure that ganja is not available anywhere,” he said.

Without naming any officers, the Leader of the Opposition criticised the police, saying that a Director-General of Police had announced multiple anti-drug operations.

“However, he retired without eradicating ganja. This is because peddling was carried out by supporters of the ruling party,” he alleged.

‘Police failed miserably’

He further claimed that the police had “miserably failed” to control the situation. “Even the police have no protection against drug addicts. In fact, addicts even assault police personnel,” he said.

Mr. Palaniswami described the State Assembly election as an opportunity to put an end to such issues. He also alleged that sexual assaults on women and children were on the rise under the DMK regime. Displaying a T-shirt that he said was given to him by girl children in Sivakasi, he claimed it carried a message expressing concern over their safety. “Only the AIADMK can ensure our safety. We do not want DMK rule any more,” it read.

AIADMK candidates K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji (Sivakasi), M. Chandra Prabha (Srivilliputtur), S. Sethupathi (Aruppukottai), M.S.R. Rajavarman (Tiruchuli), and V.G. Ganesan (Virudhunagar), along with BJP candidate Priscilla Pandian (Rajapalayam), were present.

Mr. Palaniswami also campaigned in Aruppukottai in the district.