MP Congress President Jitu Patwari stated that women in the state consume the most alcohol. CM Mohan Yadav termed this an insult to women and demanded an apology from the Congress President and the removal of Patwari from his position.
Jitu Patwari Statement: Politics in Madhya Pradesh was stirred when Congress state president Jitu Patwari made a controversial statement about women. He said, "Women in Madhya Pradesh consume the most alcohol in the country." As soon as this statement came to light, the political atmosphere heated up, and BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, launched a sharp attack on the Congress.
Jitu Patwari's Controversial Statement
In a conversation with the media, Jitu Patwari claimed that the consumption of alcohol in Madhya Pradesh is the highest in the country, and the state has surpassed Punjab and other states in the business of intoxication. He said that women and 'Ladli Behna' (beloved sisters) are also falling prey to addiction. Patwari directly blamed the BJP government for this. He said that the BJP took votes from the Ladli Behnas but did not take any concrete steps for de-addiction.
Patwari said, "Madhya Pradesh has received the tag that women here consume the most alcohol. The BJP government is responsible for this situation."
CM Mohan Yadav's Counterattack
After Jitu Patwari's statement, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav gave a b reaction. He said that the Congress has insulted the women of the state, especially the Ladli Behnas. CM Yadav said, "This shows the petty mindset of the Congress. Linking women with alcohol is very shameful. The public will respond to this insult."
The Chief Minister demanded that the National President of Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, apologize and remove Jitu Patwari from his post. He said that this statement hurts the dignity of women, and Congress should apologize for it.
BJP Leaders Attack Congress
Apart from CM Yadav, Madhya Pradesh BJP President Hemant Khandelwal, senior MLA Rameshwar Sharma, and Minister of Women and Child Development Nirmala Bhuria also targeted Patwari.
BJP President Khandelwal wrote on 'X' (formerly Twitter), "On the day of Hartalika Teej, when crores of women were fasting, Jitu Patwari insulted the power of women. This language of Congress leaders is an insult not only to Indian culture but also to the faith of crores of women."
He alleged that the Congress is unable to digest the schemes being run by the Mohan Yadav government for the Ladli Behnas, which is why such statements are being made.
Congress's Counterattack
Congress leaders say that the BJP is unnecessarily exaggerating this issue. According to the Congress, Jitu Patwari's intention was not to insult women but to draw attention to the increasing consumption of alcohol and the business of intoxication in the state. The Congress said that the BJP government has only made announcements in the name of prohibition and de-addiction, but no concrete action has been taken at the ground level.
Women and the Center of Politics
After the "Ladli Behna" scheme in Madhya Pradesh, women have come to the center of politics. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government is running several schemes to empower women economically and socially. In such a situation, any statement about women becomes politically very sensitive.
The BJP has directly attacked the Congress by linking this statement to the respect of women. BJP leaders say that this is an insult not only to women but also to the culture and traditions of the state.
