This Article is From Oct 13, 2009

BJP MP turns down Vijay Mallya's Diwali gift

BJP MP turns down Vijay Mallya's Diwali gift
New Delhi: Liquor baron Vijay Mallya faced an awkward situation on Monday when a BJP MP returned a bottle of alcohol that was given to him as a Diwali gift by the former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Prabhat Jha also wrote a letter to Mallya which says that though this gift may have been sent to him with affection, it had no place in his life.

The letter also pulls up Mallya for not keeping in mind the norms of "Parliament, Parliamentarians, and the Parliamentary system".

"I was surprised as by sending such gifts to Indian Parliamentarians, even without having any acquaintance with them, we are perhaps making fun of the MPs or treating them as
worthy of a bottle," Jha said.

"I have returned your bottle as I don't want to feel belittled in my own house. In my home there is still respect for tradition and culture. Liquor is even today a problem and
not a solution for the country," he said.

Jha even asked Mallya what legal action should be taken against him for distributing liquor.

"Delhi government has imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on those drinking in public, but what punishment should be given to you for publicly distributing alcohol?" he asked.
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