Led by party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), the hunger strike was aimed at pressurising Chief Minister Stalin to resign owning moral responsibility for the deaths due to the killer brew.
BJP national president J P Nadda wrote to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressing shock over the "stoic silence" of the grand old party over the recent hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi region which resulted in the death of more than 56 people.
A political slugfest has erupted between the opposition parties and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over the horrendous hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi town, 244 km south of the capital Chennai, which has claimed 58 lives so far.
Bihar excise Minister Sunil Kumar on Wednesday "confirmed" six people have died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor.
A team led by ADG zone Rajiv Krishan visited the villages and interacted with the family members of the deceased.
Congress in charge of Punjab Asha Kumari said, 'Everyone who has grievances against anybody should speak to party leaders and raise the issue in party forums. Speaking to the press is not acceptable.'
Promising justice for the victims of the case, which he termed as the biggest tragedy of recent times, the CM also mooted enhancement of punishment for spurious liquor manufacturing and smuggling under the Excise Act, to ensure that repeat offenders remain behind the bars and are not able to come out easily to indulge again in the crime.
The deaths have taken place in Punjab’s Amritsar, Batala and Tarn Taran districts since Wednesday night, Punjab Chief Minister's Office informed.
Deaths began when tea plantation workers consumed spurious liquor known as 'Sulai mod' in Assamese on Thursday night.
Expressing concern over the deaths, the chief minister directed Upper Assam Divisional Commissioner Julie Sonowal to inquire into it and submit a report to the government within a month.
