After more than 22 people died and 60 fell ill due to consumption of spurious alcohol in the state’s Ahmedabad and Botad districts, Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday questioned the Gujarat government.
Kejriwal, after condoling the deaths earlier in the day, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI: “A very sad incident came to my knowledge that more than 25 people have died in Bhavnagar after drinking spurious liquor and several others are admitted to the hospitals. I wish them speedy recovery.”
“The question is that if Gujarat is a dry state then how is alcohol being sold openly in the state and who is benefitting from this? This is not the first time in Gujarat. Why is the govt not looking after this, or is there some conspiracy behind this?” he further questioned.
The Delhi chief minister is on his second visit to Gujarat in a week.
In the Botad district, 16 people have died and over 50 are being treated. The purchase reportedly happened from the bootleggers on Sunday night.
The state government has meanwhile stepped up investigation into the matter; while the anti-terror squad (ATS) has been told to investigate the cases and a special investigation team (SIT) is likely to be set up.
Speaking about the incident, Gujarat’s Director General of Police said: “The crime has been cracked in less than 24 hours. Cases have been registered and 13 persons have been named, of whom a majority have been rounded up. Further investigation is being carried out,” he said.
Gujarat is a dry state where sale and consumption of liquor is prohibited. Only those holding a permit issued by the government can consume liquor.
