Gehlot, Rupani once again trade barbs over liquor in dry Guj

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his Gujarat counterpart Vijay Rupani were once again involved in a spat over liquor sales in the latter's dry state.

Prohibition is in force in Gujarat and manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol is banned, though Gehlot had earlier claimed liquor was consumed here widely, triggering a backlash from the BJP-led government.

Speaking at the Congress' "Jan Vedana" rally here, Gehlot asked Rupani to "face the truth" about liquor intake in Gujarat, and told the latter to find a solution to it rather than take offence at the statement.

Rupani, in turn, challenged Gehlot to enforce prohibition in Rajasthan.

"In Gujarat, liquor is consumed widely, that does not mean liquor is consumed in every household. Gujarat chief minister should have faced the truth, as he knows people here consume liquor," Gehlot told reporters.

"(Rupani) should have consulted chief ministers of states like Rajasthan, Haryana, MP and Punjab, and asked them to try and ensure liquor (from those states) does not enter Gujarat. Instead, he distorted my statement and said I was insulting the people of Gujarat," Gehlot added.

Hitting back, Rupani said, "Talking of liquor ban in Gujarat does not suits Gehlot ji. For discussion to be held, he should first enforce liquor prohibition in Rajasthan. We will later discuss how much liquor is consumed. If he has power, he should enforce prohibition in Rajasthan."