Ahmedabad: A hooch tragedy in Gujarat has killed over 85 people and now there are accusations that the state authorities are trying to cover up the numbers. A number of illicit liquor dealers have been arrested.
Sendaji Thakore's son Dinesh died on Wednesday in the Ahmedabad hooch tragedy.
"The police told me I should hide the fact that he died after consuming illicit liquor, instead say he died of an illness. I refused to do so," said Sendaji Thakore, father of victim.
About 85 people have died. The government seems desperate to cover up the numbers.
In 1960 when Gujarat became a state it banned the sale of liquor in honour of the Mahatma. It could never effectively stop sale, instead created a huge and unaccountable black market.
Between 1977 and 1989 there were seven big hooch tragedies in which 500 people have died. The BJP blamed the ruling Congress for being ineffective.
Naturally, the first big hooch tragedy in its regime has caught the BJP red in the face.
"We keep complaining but the police doesn't arrest anybody," said a resident, Gujarat.
"We demanded that the issue be discussed, but the minister did not listen, the government didn't want to discuss. We raised our voice but we were thrown out of the House," said Shaktisinh Gohil, leader of Opposition, Gujarat Assembly.
Hundred bootleggers have been arrested including the kingpin of this hooch supply, Hari Shankar Kahar.
However, allegations of police being hand-in-glove with bootleggers is growing stronger.