Hooch Tragedy in Gujarat and JSM's intervention

ARTICLE (Vol. 1, Issue 1, August 2009)

Sriram Ananth

The tragic death of over 150 people, primarily from the toiling unorganized labour class, brought to light the deep contradictions and class-based hypocrisy in Gujarat’s longstanding policy on prohibition.

History has shown us that prohibition has never worked as a policy, giving rise to the mafia and organized criminal syndicates in the US in the 1920s and 1930s, that ultimately also infiltrated trade unions. Due to prohibition Gujarat has an alternate, underground economy on both country-made liquor as well as Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). This alternate economy runs into many thousands of crores, with the tentacles of corruption and beneficiaries stretching right from the petty beat constable all the way to MLAs and MPs. In a stark manifestation of ludicrous hypocrisy, the Gujarat state government even asked the central government for Rs. 3000 crore as compensation for losses incurred due to the implementation of its own prohibition policy in the name of Gandhi! This they calculate as approximately 10% of the alternate liquor econonmy occurring to the state, which pegs the economy at around Rs. 30,000 crore, even from a conservative standpoint as per the state’s own calculations.

The hooch tragedy resulted in numerous organizations as well as the corrupt Congress Party opposition in the state going on rallies demanding stricter implementation of prohibition and calls for further punitive measures. Nowhere were the actual victims seen as worthy of attention, with some portions of public discourse even suggesting that they be refused compensation since they were drinking.

The class-oppressive nature of the discourse was easy to see, as the elite and upper classes would have no cause to worry since they would be able to access high-quality bootlegged liquor!

Once again it required the intervention of Jan Sangarsh Manch in a dharna on July 17^th in front of the Town Hall in Ahmedabad, to expose the hypocrisy of the prevailing discourse, and demand compensation for the victims in addition to punishment for the state and police officials involved in the hooch tragedy. Furthermore, in a sharply progressive deviation from the oppressive mainstream climate on the issue, JSM called for a review of prohibition in the state and a state-wide debate on the merits of such a problematic policy. JSM also offered full legal support to the families of the victims in their struggle for justice.

Indeed the immediate chord struck in the hearts of the affected people with JSM’s stand could be seen in a spontaneous rally supported by JSM at Kantodia Vaas, the main site of the tragedy and a centre for illicit country-made liquor. At the rally the masses readily stood with JSM and were steadfastly keen on engaging in a struggle for the justice due to them.