Offering to help Gujarat introduce a “responsible alcoholic beverages policy”, Vijay Mallya, chairman of UB Group, India’s largest liquor conglomerate, told the Narendra Modi government to face reality and allow liquor consumption in the state.
“It (the deaths) is not only tragic but
should serve as a wake-up call to our political hypocrites. Narendra Modi knows fully well that every brand of alcohol is available in Gujarat,” Mallya’s statement said.
Expectedly, Modi wasn’t amused. Jaynarayan Vyas, his government’s spokesperson, said: “Mallya should keep his policies to himself — we don’t need his suggestions. He should look after his liquor business.”
The only comments from the chief minister were available in his posts (19 of them, all in Gujarati) on twitter.com/ Narendra_Modi. “Many elements are giving the tragic incident political colour and are trying to ruin the peaceful atmosphere in Gujarat,” said one. Another said: “My government is sincere about eliminating the vice of illicit liquor.”