In ‘dry’ Gujarat, a liquor bottle seized every four seconds: Report
Ahmedabad: In Gujarat, where alcohol prohibition is in place, authorities have seized one bottle of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) every four seconds in 2024, according to police data.
A total of 82 lakh liquor bottles, valued at Rs 144 crore, were confiscated across the state. Of these, 4,38,047 bottles were seized in Ahmedabad city, Ahmedabad rural, and Western Railways' Ahmedabad jurisdiction, as reported by the Times of India on Tuesday.
Ahmedabad city alone accounted for 2,139 cases involving 3.06 lakh IMFL bottles, while 7,796 cases were linked to the confiscation of 1.58 lakh litres of countrymade liquor.
Authorities seized Rs 9.8 crore worth of IMFL bottles hidden in secret compartments of trucks and godowns in Vadodara rural. Additionally, police uncovered Rs 8.9 crore worth of liquor disguised as household goods in an interstate smuggling operation in Surat rural, added the report.
Navsari recorded a seizure of 6.23 lakh IMFL bottles traced to high-tech manufacturing units in neighbouring states, while Godhra authorities seized liquor worth Rs 8.8 crore. In Bhavnagar, law enforcement intercepted Rs 8.7 crore worth of IMFL and countrymade liquor concealed inside water tanks and beneath fresh vegetables.
A senior official told TOI that these raids serve as a reminder to smugglers that, irrespective of their innovative tactics, they will not be allowed to violate the law. “The message is clear: There's no room for the spirit of lawlessness in the land of Gandhi," the official asserted.
However, a retired Director General of Police (DGP) acknowledged that completely halting liquor smuggling is a massive challenge due to supply chains from neighbouring states. He emphasised the need for stricter action against local breweries to curb illegal liquor distribution.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
