Chhota Udepur: Former IPS officer and newly appointed Minister of State for Tribal Development, Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, P.C. Baranda, sparked a controversy over the effectiveness of Gujarat’s liquor ban by stating that “a little bit” of liquor circulation was allowed even amidst prohibition, as tribals consume liquor.

Baranda, who rose from being a first-term MLA from Bhiloda to a minister, made the remarks while addressing a gathering during the government’s Gaurav Yatra in Naswadi, Chhota Udepur. Holding the hand of former Congress MLA Dhirubhai Bhil, the minister said,

“I came here as DSP in 2015. We became fast friends at that time. During coordination meetings, Dada [Dhirubhai Bhil] used to complain about this didn’t happen, that didn’t happen, liquor is flowing there, and so on. I used to say we have to allow it (Chalaavvu Pade). I told him, ‘My people, the Adivasis, they drink liquor, man. We have to allow a little bit (Thodu Thodu Chalaavvaanu Yaar).'”

Baranda’s comments, which went viral on social media, have reignited debate over the implementation of liquor prohibition in Gujarat. Critics argue that his statement exposes gaps between law and enforcement.

Meanwhile, according to police statistics, in 2024, one bottle of English liquor was seized every four seconds in Gujarat. Over the past year, 82 lakh bottles worth Rs. 144 crore were seized in the state, excluding liquor that was consumed but went undetected.

The former MLA, Dhirubhai Bhil, who was present on the stage, later clarified that the minister was merely recounting discussions from coordination meetings in 2015 when Baranda was DSP and Bhil was MLA. Bhil emphasized that Baranda was revisiting an old topic and not making new policy statements. DeshGujarat