Yogi minister stirs controversy, inaugurates beer bar

Uttar Pradesh minister Swati Singh landed in a huge controversy after she inaugurated a beer bar in the state capital.
 
According to the sources here, Swati Singh, who was a minister of state with independent charge, inaugurated the beer bar at a posh locality in the state capital a few days back.
 
The matter came to light, when pictures showing the minister cutting the ribbon of the beer bar in the presence of some other people, including two senior UP officials, went viral on the social networking sites on Monday.
 
The inauguration came at a time, when women in several parts of the state had been demonstrating to press their demand for closure of liquor shops, which were situated near residential areas.
 
Swati Singh's husband Daya Shankar Singh, a senior BJP leader, was also among the invitees on the occasion of inauguration.
 
Swati Singh came into limelight last year, when her husband Daya Shankar Singh had made an objectionable remark against BSP supremo Mayawati and was arrested. Swati had later been made the president of the Women's Wing of UP BJP.
 
District magistrate of Raebareli Gaurav Singh and his wife and police chief of Unnao district Neha Pandey were also present on this occasion.
 
Sources said that the presence of two senior officials at the inauguration has not gone down well with the government and two have been asked to explain the same.
 
The opposition parties slammed the minister for the inauguration and demanded her removal from the ministry.
 
''It exposes the double face of BJP....it says something and practices something else,'' state Congress leader Ajai Kumar said. Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Rajendra Chaudhary also criticised the minister.
 
BJP leaders, however, feigned ignorance about the matter and said that they had no information about the same. ''The minister may have done it in her personal capacity,'' remarked a state BJP leader.