Congress accuses Raj minister of speaking against liquor ban

Congress today accused state Industry Minister Gajendra Singh of "promoting" alcohol by making remarks against the possibility of enforcing liquor ban in the state, a charge denied by the minister.
Singh had yesterday, in reply to a question on banning liquor in the state, asked how one could be stopped from smoking and eating non-vegetarian food.
"How can you stop any one from smoking or eating non-vegetarian food? Law and order should be strong," he said when a reporter sought his opinion on feasibility of complete liquor ban in the state.
"The minister's statement appears as if he is advertising liquor. The statement is uncalled for and below the dignity of a minister," Rameshwar Dudi, Leader of Opposition in the assembly, claimed.

"Liquor is a curse for lakh of families but the minister has given a statement which is kind of a promotion of liquor," he said.
While the Congress alleged that the minister called consuming liquor a right of an individual, the minister said that he did not say so.

PCC Vice President Archana Sharma also demanded an apology from the minister.
"His views are clearly appears in support of liquor and he should tender an apology to society," she said.
The minister rejected the allegation and accused the Congress of misleading people on his statement.
"I never said that drinking liquor is a fundamental right. The allegation is baseless. I just presented a general viewpoint that the liquor harms but it was presented wrongly," the minister told PTI today.