Gujarat minister Raghavji Patel ‘accidentally’ consumes liquor meant for tribal ritual, says ‘unaware’ of custom

According to a video that went viral on social media, Patel, along with former Dediapada BJP MLA Motilal Vasava, former Narmada district BJP chief Shankar Vasava and other local leaders, followed the priest’s instructions until they were handed out a leaf cup, into which the priest is seen pouring a brew from a bottle.

#Gujarat minister Raghavji Patel ‘accidentally’ consumes liquor meant for tribal ritual, says ‘unaware’ of customhttps://t.co/JWB2T2ac8u pic.twitter.com/oYI0959QsN

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) August 9, 2023

The video shows that as soon as the priest poured the said “country liquor” into the leaf cup held by Patel, he began to drink it and was immediately interrupted by BJP leaders, including Motilal and Shankar. When the leaders told Patel – “It is not for drinking, but for offering” – the minister is heard saying, “You should have told me this.” The leaders shared a laugh as Patel dropped the leaf cup.

Speaking to mediapersons after the event, Patel said, “I am unaware about tribal customs… This is my first visit here. In our rituals, we are given charnamrit in the hand and it is supposed to be consumed. I assumed that it was a similar ritual… It happened due to my lack of knowledge.”

The priest said the offerings at the ritual included paddy, leaves, coconut and country liquor.

Motilal, also the national executive member of the BJP tribal cell, said: “It is customary to offer country liquor to the earth in all our important rituals that are performed on the occasion of birth, death, celebration and also on auspicious days of worship. This is what panchamrit and charnamrit are to non-tribals…”

“Nobody can deny us the right to perform our practices and we do not need permission to follow our customary law. However, we believe in the prohibition law in place in Gujarat and are not a community that consumes alcohol in contravention of the law. We continue to tell tribals to refrain from consuming alcohol while not taking part in customary practices,” he added.

Motilal, who was right next to Patel at the event, said that he was “proud” that the minister had “consumed” a bit of the “charnamrit”. “I am proud of Minister Raghavji Patel, who not only partook in our rituals but also accepted our charnamrit being a non-drinker. He paid it the same respect that he would show towards the charnamrit in his traditional offering to God and this has won over the tribals here…”

The in charge SP of Narmada, Vani Dudhat, said the permit for the liquor to be offered was to be issued by the office of the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM). However, Dediapada SDM Anil Ukani said, “No such permission was given by our office, as it (the subject) does not come under the purview of SDM office.”

An official from the administration said, “It is a tribal custom to offer liquor during rituals. They worship the earth and this was a part of a custom… The tribals do not approach the administration seeking permits for such events…”