Uttar Pradesh Governor and former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel made a robust defence of the state's longstanding prohibition policy on Sunday, directly linking the alcohol ban to the safety and freedom enjoyed by women in Gujarat. Her comments came amid ongoing discussions about potentially relaxing the strict liquor prohibition laws in the state.
Praise for Amit Shah as a Modern Chanakya
The occasion was the launch of the Gujarati edition of her biography, 'Chunautiyan Mujhe Pasand hai' (I like Challenges), in Ahmedabad on December 8, 2025. The event was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. In her address, delivered in Gujarati, Anandiben Patel reserved high praise for Amit Shah, drawing a parallel between the Union Minister and the ancient Indian strategist, Chanakya.
"We all know him… by the name of Chanakya. And he is indeed Chanakya," she stated, highlighting his political acumen. She elaborated that Shah, from their time serving together in the state cabinet under then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, had the insight to advise even the Prime Minister. "He (Shah) would tell even Narendrabhai…this is what should be done," she recalled, adding that such strategic prowess suited him while she retained the soul of a teacher.
Women's Safety: The Core Argument for Prohibition
Shifting focus to the contentious issue of darubandi (prohibition) in Gujarat, Patel expressed her concern over talks of relaxing the ban. "I have heard that you are talking about opening (relaxing) darubandi in Gujarat. I have read it in newspapers," she said.
She presented a stark contrast between the situation in Gujarat and parts of Uttar Pradesh, the state she now governs. "In our Gujarat, women can play garba till four in the night and it is because of darubandi. Whereas, in Uttar Pradesh, at some places, such is the situation that women cannot move out even today," Patel asserted, making a powerful case for the policy's role in ensuring public order and security for women.
Gujarat's Peace: A Magnet for Retired Officials
To further bolster her argument, Anandiben Patel pointed to the choices made by senior bureaucrats after their retirement. She urged the audience to consider why the families of former Additional Chief Secretaries and Chief Secretaries chose to settle in Gujarat post-retirement instead of returning to their home states.
"Why did they settle in Gujarat? Peace for (their) daughters, for women. And that peace cannot be allowed to be breached," she emphasized, framing the prohibition law as a cornerstone of the social peace that makes Gujarat an attractive and safe place to live, particularly for families.
Earlier in the event, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also commended Anandiben Patel, noting her resilience in handling agitations—a likely reference to the Patidar reservation agitation of 2015 during her tenure as Chief Minister. Both Shah and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel departed the event after their speeches to attend another function.
