Chaos in Guj House as Cong MLA seeks lifting of liquor ban

Opposition Congress today suffered a huge embarrassment on the floor of the Legislative Assembly when a senior MLA demanded lifting of prohibition on liquor in the state.
Though the Congress tried to temper the statement of Niranjan Patel, who represents Petlad constituency, the party which has been combative on the issues of illegal liquor and gambling dens flourishing in Anand district had to beat a hasty retreat with the ruling BJP attacking it on the MLA's statement.
The issues of the sale of illegal liquor and gambling dens were raised during the Question Hour by Congress MLA Anklav Amit Chavda who sought the reply of the Minister of State (MoS) for Home, Rajnikant Patel.

In his reply, the minister stated that these activities are strictly prohibited in the state and that his department and local police are taking the necessary action against those involved in the crime.
However, Patel's reply failed to satisfy the Congress members who started shouting slogans against BJP claiming the state government is not doing enough to curb such activities, and displayed placards with anti-government slogans written on them.
They alleged that liquor worth crores of rupees is being sold every day across the state.

Amid chaos, NCP MLA Jayant Patel (Jayant Bosky), who represents Umreth seat, caused a furore when he asked the minister whether his department is willing to give permission to all MLAs to consume liquor.

In his response, the minister smiled and said this is just a suggestion made by the MLA.
Meanwhile, Niranjan Patel joined the issue and asked the minister to lift the prohibition on liquor so that people are not forced to consume spurious liquor.
However, Patel's suggestion caused a huge uproar in the House, with the minister asking Leader of Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela to clear the air on his party's stand on the demand made by Patel.
The minister asked Vaghela that if Patel's demand to lift prohibition is the new ideology of Congress.
When the argument heated up between Congress and BJP MLAs on this issue, Congress MLA from Ahmedabad, Gyasuddin Shaikh started shouting slogans and flashed a placard having anti-government writings.

When he didn't sit down even after repeated requests by Speaker Ganpat Vasava, the latter asked marshals to evict Sheaikh out of House.
Vasava then suspended Shaikh for the day.