Opposition parties in Puducherry, the DMK and Communist Party of India (CPI), have strongly condemned the AINRC-BJP government over the recent fatal attack on a college student at a restobar in the Union Territory (UT).

In separate statements, the DMK and CPI have criticised the government for its failure to control violations that were reported in the functioning of restobars for a long time. 

Opposition leader and DMK convenor R. Siva said the Chief Minister and Home Minister are responsible for the mushrooming of restobars in the UT. There were several complaints about violations of licence rules by restobar owners, he said.

“They were not adhering to the closure time and used to function past midnight. Drugs are being sold inside the outlets. Bouncers and rowdy elements are used to threaten customers. If the government had addressed these complaints, one life could have been saved. The CM and HM are responsible for the situation,” he said. The DMK will organise a protest if the government failed to control the functioning of restobars, Mr. Siva said. 

CPI demands closure of all restobars

CPI secretary A.M. Saleem has demanded the immediate closure of all restobars in the UT. Restobars are detrimental to the interests of the future generation and progress of the UT, he said. 

“The murder of the student has badly exposed the liquor policy of the government. Several assaults inside restobars have been reported in recent times. Now, a birthday celebration inside a restobar has resulted in a fatal assault. The Police and Excise departments have failed to take action against violations in the functioning of the outlets,” Mr. Saleem said. The CPI has also demanded the arrest of the “real” culprits involved in the murder of the college student, the statement said.