The hooch tragedy, that has so far claimed 36 lives in a state that enforces total prohibition of alcohol, has come as a huge embarrassment to the ruling BJP in the election year. The state will go to polls in December.
Gujarat DGP Ashish Bhatia confirmed 28 deaths in the tragedy.
The victims had consumed spurious liquor on Sunday night and were admitted to various hospitals of Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Botad on Monday after they complained of vomiting and blurred vision. The victims belong to eight villages of Barwala and Dhandhuka talukas.
Forty more people, who complained of illnesses, are still in hospital.
The crematoria in the villages did not have enough infrastructure to cremate the bodies. A few funeral pyres were lit on the ground because of the lack of infrastructure to accommodate the bodies lined up.
The main accused, Jayesh Khabadiya, who works in a factory in Ahmedabad, and several others, have been arrested.
The BJP leaders are yet to condemn the incident. None of the social media handles of the party leaders had any reference to the tragedy. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi was scheduled to address a press conference on the issue, but later asked the DGP to do so.
The opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have been targetting the government ever since reports of the tragedy came out. Congress leaders, led by state party president Jagdish Thakor, visited the affected villages to pay condolences to the families of the victims and to speak to them.
AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in Gujarat, visited victims undergoing treatment at Sir T Hospital in Bhavnagar.
Police claim that the victims consumed methyl alcohol.
Three days ago, Khabadiya had sold 600 litres of methyl alcohol for Rs 41,500 to his cousin Sanjay, who is a bootlegger. The police claim that both knew that consuming methyl alcohol can cause death.
Sources said Khabadiya used to steal methyl alcohol from the factory where he was working.
Thakor refuted the claims by police, and alleged that there is a nexus between the police, politicians and the bootleggers. He said the claim that the victims consumed chemical mixed with water is an attempt to cover up this nexus.
Family members of the victims also told a section of media that their loved ones had consumed liquor. Sources said the country-made liquor was sold in small pouches for Rs 20 and Rs 40. One of the bootleggers, who had consumed the spurious alcohol, too had died.
The Congress leaders have pointed out that no action was taken against the bootleggers despite the issue being brought to the notice of police by the sarpanch of Rojid village and local Congress MLA Rajesh Gohil. The latter had raised the issue in a meeting of coordination committee.
In New Delhi, Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil demanded an inquiry headed by a sitting High Court judge into the incident.
Chief spokesperson of Gujarat Congress Dr Manish Doshi alleged that the state government has failed to implement prohibition. Citing figures, he said in the last two years, liquor worth more than Rs 215 crore has been seized.
Former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela said he was all for reviewing the prohibition policy.
Vaghela said graduate youths from the tribal belt of Gujarat should be given licenses to produce desi liquor and this should be made available like Amul milk and buttermilk in pouches. It should be branded and the state government should supervise it, he said, adding that this will give employment to the tribal youth.
Education Minister Jitubhai Vaghani, who hails from Bhavnagar, visited the victims and told media that politics should not be played over the deaths.