Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Gujarat after nearly four dozen people were confirmed dead in Botad and Ahmedabad after allegedly drinking spurious liquor.
Challenging the law and order situation in the state, the former president of the Congress party wondered how toxic alcohol made it through to the people in Gujarat, where every kind of liquor is banned.
"In the dry state of Gujarat, several families have been devastated due to toxic liquor. Regularly, drugs worth billions are being seized in the state. This is a matter of great concern. In the land of Bapu and Sardar Patel, who are these people indulging in such illegal trade? Who are those in power, shielding these mafia members?" Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the Gujarat government, led by Bhupendra Patel came amid a rising death toll in the hooch tragedy in the Botad and Ahmedabad districts. According to the latest reports from the state administration, the number of deaths in the incident has risen to 46, while 97 people were still in hospital, many of them battling for their lives in Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar.
The Gujarat police have said that 15 accused have already been arrested, while search teams have been conducting raids on the hideouts of the remaining 23 people who have been named in the First Information Report (FIR).
On the other hand, Gujarat's Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi has declared that the case will be heard by a fast-track court and the government will push for a speedy trial.
"We will ensure that the guilty would be awarded exemplary punishment," he said in a press conference after the worst hooch tragedy in Gujarat in more than 10 years.
Sanghavi also said that the chemical used in making the toxic liquor has been seized by the police while the men who supplied the illegal alcohol to people have been identified.