UP CM Adityanath seeks explanation from Minister Swati Singh over her presence at beer bar inauguration

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday sought an explanation from state woman welfare minister Swati Singh over her presence at the inauguration of beer bar. 

A controversy erupted after pictures of Swati Singh purportedly inaugurating a beer bar have gone viral on social media stirring a controversy with the opposition parties today questioning if this is the true face of the BJP government.

In the pictures, she is seen cutting a ribbon with a group of people, including some bureaucrats, standing alongside her.

Swati, wife of Dayashankar Singh who was suspended for allegedly making derogatory remarks against BSP supremo Mayawati, is said to have ‘inaugurated’ the bar on May 20.

She was not immediately available for a comment.

Taking the opportunity to attack the Yogi Aditynath government, opposition parties questioned if this is the real face of the new dispensation.

“This aptly shows the contradictions in the ruling BJP... They say one thing, but practice something else,” Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said.

This comes at a time when women in Uttar Pradesh are at the forefront of protests against liquor, he said.

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Congress leader Dwijendra Tripathi said this incident shows the real “chaal (action), charitra (character) and chehra (face)” of the BJP government.

“They speak about things only to woo the public... Their leaders talk about prohibition while a minister of their’s goes to inaugurate a beer bar,” he said, adding it is also not clear if the bar is licenced or not.

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BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi came out in her defence, saying since liquor is not banned in the state, her action is not illegal. (With PTI Inputs)