Speaking about the recent Gujarat hooch tragedy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today expressed concern over the business of illicit liquor and drugs in the state, and asked which ruling forces are giving protection to the "mafias" involved.
42 people from Gujarat's Botad and neighbouring Ahmedabad districts have died so far after consuming the toxic liquor on July 25, while 97 people are still admitted to hospitals in Bhavnagar, Botad and Ahmedabad, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi has said.
"In 'dry state' Gujarat, many houses were destroyed due to the consumption of illicit liquor. Drugs worth billions are also being recovered from there continuously," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
"It is a matter of great concern, on the land of Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) and Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel, who are these people who are indiscriminately doing the business of intoxication?" the former Congress chief questioned.
Which ruling forces are giving protection to these "mafias", he asked.
Fifteen key accused, including the one who acquired the chemical and those who sold the liquor to people, have already been arrested in the case.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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