New Delhi, July 29 (UNI) The Congress on Friday questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over the hooch tragedy in Gujarat, and demanded a probe into the matter by a sitting judge of the High Court.
The grand old party also demanded immediate announcement of compensation to those who died after reportedly drinking the spurious liquor and better treatment for those admitted to hospitals.
“Neither the Home Minister nor the Chief Minister or the PM met the families of the deceased. The PM is in Gujarat. Why are the PM and Home Minister silent over such a big tragedy,” Congress chairman of media and publicity department Pawan Khera said at a press conference over the hooch tragedy in Gujarat which claimed 42 lives so far? Attacking the BJP government in Gujarat, Khera said, “Who is behind this incident? There is a network of police, administration, and politicians of the ruling party. Therefore, we demand a probe into the tragedy by the sitting judge of Gujarat High Court, im- mediate compensation to those who have lost their loved ones, and free and better treatment to those whose eyes and kidneys got damaged.” The Botad and Ahmedabad police on Tuesday registered three FIRs against nearly 20 culprits under Indian Penal Code Sections 302 (murder), 328 (causing hurt by poison), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and have arrested at least 15 of them so far. Earlier in the day, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi questioned the Gujarat government over the tragedy and said it is a matter of great concern that such a thing happened in the land of Bapu and Sardar Patel. He also accused the BJP-ruled state of giving protection to those who are behind this incident.
“It is a matter of great concern, in the land of Bapu and Sardar Patel, who are these people who are carrying out the drug business indiscriminately? Which ruling forces are giving protection to these mafias?” he tweeted. The Congress MP further said, “In the ‘dry state’ Gujarat, many houses were destroyed by drinking spurious liquor. Drugs worth billions are also being recovered there continuously”.
The death toll due to the consumption of spurious liquor in Gujarat has reached 42, and nearly 95 people are still admitted to hospitals in Bhavnagar, Botad, and Ahmedabad, police said. The Botad and Ahmedabad police on Tuesday registered three FIRs against nearly 20 culprits under Indian Penal Code Sections 302 (murder), 328 (causing hurt by poison), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and have arrested at least 15 of them so far.
