The opposition parties in Tamil Nadu have called for a state-wide shutdown demanding complete prohibition on consumption of liquor in the state.

The state-wide bandh has been called by MDMK and the VCK, while DMK president M Karunanidhi has called for a protest in all district headquarters on 10 August, The Hindu reports.

The opposition parties have long been staging protests, demanding a ban on liquor in Tamil Nadu. They have been demanding the shut down of all the shops owned by Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) – the Tamil Nadu government-owned company – that has monopoly over wholesale and retail vending of alcoholic beverages in the state.

On Monday, the protest took a violent turn as young protesters set three liquor shops on fire. 

Last week Gandhian and anti-liquor activist from Salem in Tamil Nadu, Sasi Perumal, died during a protest demanding the closure of a TASMAC liquor shop at Unnaamalaikkadai in Kanyakumari district.

AIADMK government, which had agreed to his demand, shut down the shop. However, Perumal's death enraged his supporters even more. The protesters now seek complete prohibition of liquor in the entire state.

The BJP too held a protest demanding shut down of all TASMAC shops in the state earlier in July this year.

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