Cong stages walkout from Guj Assembly over illicit liquor

Congress today walked out briefly from Gujarat Assembly during question hour while accusing the BJP government of "failing" to implement the prohibition law to stop illegal liquor trade in the "dry State".
Demanding strict action against those involved in the trade, the Leader of Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela boycotted the question hour proceedings and led the walkout.
The walkout happened at the end of the question hour and it lasted for just five minutes after which the party MLAs returned to join the discussion on budgetary demands.
The issue of illicit liquor cropped up when Minister of State for Home, Rajnibhai Patel was answering a question raised by Congress MLA Kantibhai Kharadi on the seizure of liquor in Banaskantha district.

In his reply, Patel stated that liquor worth Rs 11.30 crore has been seized from the district during 2014-15.
However, the answer sparked protests as some Congress MLAs raised slogans against government alleging that the figure indicates that bootleggers are having a "free hand" to carry out their business due to "inaction" on part of government.

Patel rebutted the charge stating that the seizure of liquor worth crores is indicative of activeness of police in curbing the menace.
He alleged that some local Congress leaders were also caught while ferrying liquor in recent past.
In his reply, Vaghela referred to recent reply of government in the Assembly wherein it 'conceded' that liquor worth Rs 316 crore was seized across the state during last five years.

He alleged that government lacked conviction to stop the illicit trade and that "massive corruption has plagued the system".
"Bootleggers are having a free hand in the state. They had even attacked policemen who tried to stop their vehicles in the past. Due to criminal negligence and unwillingness of this government, prohibition policy has failed in Gujarat," Vaghela said.
He said the Congress cannot tolerate such inaction as a large number of youths are falling prey to liquor consumption.
"Thus, to wake this government on this issue, we are boycotting the question hour," the opposition leader said.