Congress President Madhya Pradesh Jitendra (Jitu) Patwari caused a great controversy after claiming that women in the state consume more alcohol than anywhere else in the country. His notes, delivered at a public address and later repeated in Bhopal, caused a sharp political and social debate.
What did Jita Patwari claim about Madhya Pradesh women?
In his speech, Congress leader Jita Patwari attacked Bharatiya Janat (BJP) and held him responsible for unemployment, growing alcoholism and the spread of narcotics in Madhya Pradesh.
“If your son is unemployed, if your son returns home, then I say it with 100% certainty that they are responsible BJP, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Mohan Yadav,” Patwari said.
Jitu Patwari went on to claim that Madhya Pradesh became a state with the highest consumption of women’s alcohol in India.
“Our sisters and daughters began to consume narcotic substances. BJP was looking for voices in the name of schemes like Ladli Behn, but never took serious steps to protect women from addictive substances.
How did BJP react to Jita Patwari?
Jita Patwari’s comments raised immediate resistance from the ruling party in Madhya Pradesh. BJP spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi described the notes as “rude”, while the spokesman of the state Non Bagga accused Patwari of insulting women to earn political points.
“When the leader occurs, the false figures of a malignant woman resort. It is not just a murder of statistics, but an attack on the dignity of women.
What do the official data reveal?
Unlike Jito Patwari’s claims, official statistics suggest that Madhya Pradesh is one of the countries in terms of the consumption of female alcohol.
According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21):
Why does alcohol remain in the political point of flash?
In Madhya Pradesh’s policy, it has long been a sensitive problem. Governments were criticized both for liberalizing the sale of spirits to increase their income and for failing to intervene on illegal trade. Groups of women in rural areas have repeatedly demanded stricter restrictions and linked alcohol abuse with domestic violence, poverty and social instability.
It seems that Jita Patwari’s statement is an attempt to link these long -term problems with the BJP administration. His remarks about women, however, shifted the debate on the sensitivity to gender and left him with an open criticism.
What else for Congress leader?
The controversy around the consumption of alcohol was overshadowed by the intended Jito Patwari attack on unemployment and the growing abuse of addictive substances. While his comments have pointed out, the use of incorrect data and gender generalization risks weakening the narration of the congress at a time when the party is trying to bring a stronger challenge for BJP in the state.
(Tagstotranslate) Madhya pradesh
