This Article is From Jul 11, 2009

Farce of prohibition in Gujarat: Mallya

Farce of prohibition in Gujarat: Mallya

Jai Narayan Vyas

Ahmedabad:

It's not just the Opposition that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is having to contend with for the hooch tragedy in Gujarat in which 122 people have been killed. 

On Saturday, liquor baron Vijay Mallya told the Gujarat government prohibition contributes to such tragedies. 

"Narendra Modi knows fully well that every brand of alcohol is available in Gujarat. The farce of prohibition which cannot be enforced leads to illegal, unhygienic and unsupervised production of deadly cocktails which claim innocent lives," the chairman of United Breweries said.

The statement was a dangerous mix of business and politics. And the response from the Modi government was quick and sharp.

Spokesperson of Gujarat government Jai Narayan Vyas retorted: "Mr Mallya is the last person who should've spoken on this issue. He shouldn't forget that even in states where there is no prohibition like Kerala, New Delhi such incidents have taken place."

As the politics played out, the Ahmedabad Police finally bagged four of the 11 the men said to be responsible for over 120 deaths.

Hari Shankar Kahar, along with others, brought the consignment on two wheelers to Ahmedabad from Vanthwadi village near Mehamdabad.

  • The Police say Hari Shankar distributed around 700 liters of spurious liquor in Odhav
  • Another bootlegger Daddu Chara distributed 400 liters in the Kagdapeeth area
  • The crime branch is now on the hunt for Chara and atleast 5 other distributors.
  • Also Vinod Chauhan the man who made the killer brew.

Said Abhay Chudasama, DCP, Crime branch: "Our priority is to track down other distributors who had taken the consignment from Hari Shankar and Daddu and also to examine from where the chemicals used in the liquor had been obtained."

While the political rhetoric continues to make noise, it's the investigations that the families of victims are keenly watching and hoping for quick justice.

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