Babubhai Shankerdas Patel. Babubhai Shankerdas Patel.

Gujarat professes prohibition of liquor, but it is public knowledge that the policy remains largely on paper. This was brought to light by a septuagenarian de-addiction activist from North Gujarat who stunned everyone on Monday when he flung a plastic pouch containing liquor and rained pamphlets in the Assembly.

Babubhai Shankerdas Patel, 70, who campaigns in a village in North Gujarat against liquor addiction, was seated in the spectators' gallery in the Assembly. He threw the pouch just when the House was commemorating the sacrifices of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, who were sent to the gallows for hurling bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi.

Patel was protesting against poor implementation of prohibition in the state. He buttressed his allegation by carrying the liquor pouch right through the security cordon. The pamphlets that he threw were addressed to the Speaker, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and all members of the House.

