Seeman shoots election salvo from palm tree; says govt. should remove ban on toddy

The Hindu

7 hours ago

Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief co-ordinator Seeman's curious protest on Sunday demanding that the State government remove the ban on toddy from palm trees, once again pits the Dravidian political establishment against Tamil culture and tradition. He went one step further and said that he would rename 'kal' (toddy) as 'panam paal' (palm milk) to remove the negative connotations associated with the product.
Speaking after climbing a palm tree and tapping toddy himself, Mr. Seeman said that toddy should be seen as part of the food culture of Tamils and an extension of agricultural practices.
'Part of Tamil culture'
'Just like sugar cane and banana cultivation, palm trees also should be seen as an extension of agricultural practices. Just like cattle and sheep rearing, chicken rearing, sericulture and fish farming, toddy from palm trees should also be viewed similarly. Instead, the State has banned the drink... this cannot be accepted. Toddy should be treated as milk from palm trees. When we come to power, we will ban foreign liquor and we rename 'kal' as palm milk,' said Mr. Seeman.
He said that the party will ban foreign liquor except in select places. 'If 'kal' is poison, are the beer, rum and whiskey sold in TASMACs holy water given in temples?' he asked and added, 'There is no ban to toddy in other States because the Chief Ministers of other States are not connected to liquor manufacturers.'
Party sources denied that Mr. Seeman's decision to back toddy cultivators was with caste-calculations.
'Toddy is a part of Tamil culture and tradition. That only one community in the south is involved in Toddy harvest is a wrong perception. Many communities in the western and northern regions of Tamil Nadu are involved in palm tree cultivation and making related products. Our leader has taken up this issue because those who deal with toddy are treated as murderers... and are subjected to constant police harassment,' said Packiarasan Sethuramalingam, spokesperson, NTK.
He added, 'Won't the community [traditionally involved in toddy cultivation] support other parties if they too support their cause? Who is stopping them?' While NTK supported legalising toddy tapping and its sale in their manifesto, this is perhaps the first time that the party has directly launched a protest.
'We will take up issues that directly affect Tamil culture,' said Mr. Packiarasan.
Meanwhile, Puthiya Tamilagam founder K. Krishnasamy slammed the police for allowing the protest and asked what the police department plans to do if farmers start to tap toddy across Tamil Nadu without fear?