Senior Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar stirred a huge controversy after he said that members of the Yadav-Rajput castes drink the most as manufacturing liquor is their "traditional business".
Rajbhar, who was the president of the Suheldev Bharat Samaj Party (SBSP), an alliance partner of the BJP, said that his community (Rajbhar-a backward caste) is said to drink the most though it is not correct.
"Badnaam Rajbhar hote hain... Yadav aur Rajput sabse jyada daru peete hain...ye unka pushtaini vyapar hai (Rajbhars are discredited....Yadavs and Rajputs drink most...it is their traditional business)," the minister said.
He said that his party supports complete prohibition and will soon organise a huge rally to galvanise people for this purpose.
Irate Samajwadi Party (SP) workers on Saturday threw tomatoes at Rajbhar's official residence in the state capital and also damaged his nameplate in protest against the remarks.
"Chief minister Yogi Adityanath must explain if he concurs with what Rajbhar has said," said SP leader Sunil Singh Sajan here.
The SP leader asked the chief minister to immediately sack the minister for his objectionable remarks.
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