Anbazhagan filed a case in the Madras High Court to highlight the illegal manufacture and sale of gutka and pan masala in the state. His efforts eventually turned out to be successful.
Chennai :
J Anbazhagan, the DMK MLA who died of COVID-19, on Wednesday, was at the forefront of the fight to ban the sale of gutka in the state, filing a case in the Madras High Court. His efforts eventually turned out to be successful.
DMK Rajya Sabha MP Wilson told The New Indian Express, “I appeared in the case which was filed by J Anbazhagan to highlight the illegal manufacture and sale of gutka and pan masala in the state and to urge the High Court of Madras to order an independent investigation into the matter. Furthermore, Anbazhagan alleged that such sales were carried out in collusion with several high dignitaries and bureaucrats, such as central excise officials, central government officials, officials from different state governments, including the Government of Tamil Nadu, councillors of the Chennai Corporation and officials of the food safety department, among others.”
He went on to add, “The Court observed that it was compelled to take up the case as the issues involved the right to health and directed that the Central Bureau of Investigation investigate the matter since, among other reasons, central government officials allegedly were involved.”
He further said that Anbazhagan was successful, with the Supreme Court also calling for a ban on the sale of gutka products as well as action against officers who do not take measures against the sale.
Speaking to The New Indian Express, VP Kalairajan, former T Nagar MLA, who won the seat for the AIADMK defeating Anbazhagan in the 2006 assembly election, said, “He was a good, humane and outspoken person. Though I defeated him, he offered a warm welcome to me when I joined the DMK and helped me a lot to carry out party work.”
T Mari, who is from Anbazhagan’s Chepauk-Triplicane assembly constituency, told The New Indian Express, “He never missed any event of the party cadres till his last breath. He would attend every programme for which he was invited. And he didn’t show any bias against party cadres even if they differed from his opinion. He always encouraged outspoken people in the party.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by S Kumaresan / Express News Service / June 10th, 2020