Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari sparked controversy on Monday by claiming that women in the state consume more alcohol than in any other part of India. Addressing a press conference in Bhopal, Patwari also accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of being responsible for unemployment and rising alcohol consumption in the state.

“If your son is unemployed and comes home drunk, then I can say with 100% confidence that the BJP and Mohan Yadav are responsible for this,” Patwari said. He further alleged, “The women in Madhya Pradesh consume the maximum alcohol in the country. This is what the BJP has done here.”

Reacting strongly, CM Mohan Yadav dismissed the remarks as an “insult to the sisters of the entire state” and demanded an apology from Patwari. The Chief Minister highlighted schemes like Ladli Behna Yojana and women-centric initiatives under BJP governance, criticizing Congress for neglecting women’s welfare in the past.

BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi also condemned Patwari’s statement, calling it a reflection of the “anti-women mindset” of Congress. He pointed out that official data contradicts the claim and even quoted reports that rural Telangana leads in liquor consumption.

However, the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) data from 2019–2021 clarifies the truth: Arunachal Pradesh, not Madhya Pradesh, has the highest female alcohol consumption in India. This directly disproves Patwari’s assertion and places the spotlight on misinformation in political discourse.