Madhya Pradesh Congress state president Jitu Patwari has created a political storm with his controversial claim that women in the state consume more alcohol than anywhere else in the country. "Madhya Pradesh has got a medal for women in the state consuming more alcohol than anywhere else in the country," he said at a press conference in Bhopal.
Patwari also claimed that the state sees the highest level of drug trading, surpassing even Punjab. "Our CM hasn’t done anything to free us from the menace of drugs," he added that the women in the state are now facing addiction more than anywhere else in the country. The former minister, who lost his seat in the 2023 assembly elections, further asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party and its leaders, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Mohan Yadav, are responsible if a young person is unemployed and under the influence of drugs.
Reports suggest that the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) data, however, contradicts his claims. According to official figures, the highest alcohol consumption among women is in Arunachal Pradesh, where nearly 26 per cent of women drink alcohol. In contrast, only 1.6 pc of women in Madhya Pradesh consume alcohol, placing the state far below the national average.
The ruling BJP has strongly condemned Patwari's statement. In Delhi, national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi said the comments "once again expose the anti-women mindset of the Congress." He highlighted the BJP regime's policies in the state, such as 35 pc reservation for women in jobs and the 'Ladli Laxmi Scheme' for girls. Trivedi sought an apology from the Congress for Patwari's remarks.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav also reacted, stating that the state "will not tolerate the dubbing of Ladli Behnas as Sharabis (drunkards)." He called on the national Congress president to apologise and remove all leaders making such insulting statements, especially on the festival of Hartalika Teej. State BJP chief Hemant Khandelwal and spokesperson Neha Bagga also criticised Patwari, calling his remarks an "insult to the Indian culture" and a reflection of a "hollow mindset."
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