‘Regressive Thinking’: Madhya Pradesh Congress Unit Faces Flak For Tweet On Women Officials At Liquor Shops

The official twitter account of Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress Party, on Thursday (11 June), tweeted a photo of a woman in uniform sitting In what seems like a liquor shop. The tweet said that under the BJP-led government in the state are insulting women by making them sell alcohol.

The tweet said (as translated from Hindi), “This picture is very shameful. Shivraj government is so eager to sell alcohol that it’s making women sit at liquor shops. This shows their disrespectful mindset towards mothers and sisters. Shivraj ji, our culture worships women. Does your culture make women sell alcohol?”

The claim in the tweet about the present state government making women staff sell alcohol is refuted by a The Times of India report, which quotes officials saying that the women were there for inspection purpose, and were not selling alcohol.

The report quotes assistant commissioner (excise), Sanjeev Dubey, as saying, “No women is deployed at any liquor shop,”

Commenting on the presence of the excise department’s women staff inside the shop, Dubey said, “They are excise sub-inspectors and such others. They are a part of the inspections only. If anyone is claiming that women employees are deployed at liquor shops, then it is completely wrong.”

Apart from making what seems like a dubious claim, the tweet by MP Congress also carries a sexist and misogynistic undertone.

Several netizens pointed out that in the 21st century, if a woman can consume alcohol, they can also sell it. One user recalled a move by the previous Kamal Nath government to open women-friendly liquor shops.

Another remarked, “Such regressive thinking! Nothing wrong in a lady cop "manning" a #Liquorshops. In fact, it crushes gender stereotypes, as with lady traffic cops or bus conductors. And please, women are breadwinners today, they're not just your behen-beti! @INCIndia stop shackling women.”

Another user said, “She is police officer on duty ..
They are trained for all circumstances. Is this congress feminism ... ??? ”

Similar remarks were made by multiple users.