Uma Bharti raising prohibition issue in MP to seek commission from liquor contractors: Cong’s Jitu Patwari

While taking a dig at the BJP, Congress leader Jitu Patwari accused Uma Bharti of seeking a share in the commission from liquor contractors in Madhya Pradesh.

BJP leader Uma Bharti is demanding her share in the commission taken by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for increasing liquor shops in Madhya Pradesh, alleged Congress working president and former minister Jitu Patwari on Wednesday.

"Uma Bharti sits on a dharna one day, hits a stone at a liquor outlet on another, goes missing for 15 days, then comes back again to do something. What does this mean? She is demanding her share in the commission that has been taken by Shivraj Singh Chouhan for increasing the number of liquor shops across the state. If this is not true, why is Uma Bharti not firm on her stand," Patwari said.

Addressing a press conference in Bhopal, Jitu Patwari said, "Uma Bharti is expressing fears that an MP could become like Punjab. We agree with her concerns but she raises the issue of prohibition one day and the next day, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan meets her and then everything is quiet till she returns. What does this mean?"

Jitu Patwari also referred to a video shared on Twitter by former state Congress President Arun Yadav of several people allegedly consuming alcohol. "This video is of the district president of the Gwalior BJP. The chief minister talks about a public campaign for prohibition and Uma Bharti seeks closure of liquor shops and this is what their leaders are doing. The real character of the party is reflected in this," Patwari said.

Congress party's media department head KK Mishra, while sharing the video, tagged Uma Bharti and said that it was the BJP's open challenge to her. "Would the stones be pelted?" wrote Mishra.Uma Bharti, while pressing for prohibition in Madhya Pradesh, had recently vandalised a liquor shop in Bhopal by hurling stones.