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SURAT: That one of the biggest hooch tragedies
has taken place in the land of Gandhi has greatly
distressed his great-granddaughter Nilam Parikh.
According to her, the state government has made no
sincere effort to implement the liquor ban.
"It's awful that in a state where prohibition exists,
women have to start an anti-liquor movement. Shockingly,
instead of supporting the sakhi mandalis in Surat and
Navsari districts to fight liquor menace, police
threaten them," says Parikh, 76.
She has worked in the tribal region of Surat district
for 32 years and was associated with the anti-liquor
movement of sakhi mandalis. She has been living a
retired life in Navsari for the past 15 years.
"Police told the women not to take law into their own
hands as that was their job. The anti-liquor movement
was going strong, but it was forcibly stopped under
government pressure in February 2009 as elections were
approaching. All the women participating in the movement
were anganwadi workers, so government could exert
pressure on them," she says.
Parikh is daughter of Rami Parekh, eldest daughter of
Harilal Gandhi, eldest son of Gandhiji. Parikh has
written a book on the relationship between her
grandfather and great-grandfather titled Gandhiji's Lost
Jewel Harilal Gandhi'. A Bollywood film was made based
on her book.
"Gandhiji once said: If I am appointed dictator for a
moment, the first decision I would take is to ban liquor
in the country'. But, his beliefs are being forgotten in
his own state. His name is used, but work is not done as
per Gandhian ethics," says Parikh.
Prohibition should be followed strictly, without any
excuses. In the past, when such tragic incidents
occurred, police took strict action. Now, it is not so,
she adds.
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