Two held for hurling tomatoes, eggs at U.P. Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar’s home

The Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday arrested two persons for allegedly hurling tomatoes and eggs at the residence of State Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar to protest against his controversial remark that Yadavs and Rajputs consumed more liquor than others.

The arrested persons were identified as Amit Kumar Yadav and Parmil Yadav, said U.P. police spokesperson Rahul Srivastava. They were among a handful of personswho landed up outside Mr. Rajbhar’s official residence on Kalidas Marg here on Saturday, raising slogans against him. They also defaced his nameplate.

The Minister had made the remarks in Varanasi on Friday, while speaking on the need to curb drinking, especially among the backward sections of society. “It is being said that Rajbhars drink liquor the most, but it is the Yadavs and Rajputs who drink the most. It is their ancestral business,” Mr. Rajbhar said.

When asked by The Hindu to clarify on his remarks, Mr. Rajbhar said he was not targettng any particular community. He only wanted to highlight the damage liquor had done to poor families and backward castes. He said his reference to Yadavs and Rajputs came after someone asked him why he was linking only the most backward castes to liquor.