In a bold statement, a prominent figure from Bihar’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha has called for a critical reassessment of the state’s long-standing liquor ban, highlighting the alarming drop in state revenues. He proposes a comprehensive public awareness initiative to educate citizens instead of maintaining the prohibition, which he argues leads to financial losses to neighboring regions.
Patna: Barely days after JD(U) president Nitish Kumar resigned as the chief minister, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) legislature party leader and the party’s Madhubani MLA Madhaw Anand on Thursday called for a comprehensive review of the decade-old liquor law in Bihar, saying it was causing huge revenue loss to the state.
He instead demanded the launch of an intensive awareness campaign against the consumption of liquor.“I personally don’t think there is any need for prohibition,” Anand told reporters after meeting CM Samrat Choudhary on Thursday. “Instead, the focus must be on intensifying the awareness campaign against liquor,” he said, adding he expects the new govt would take serious note of his concern. He hoped the govt would conduct a comprehensive review of the ban.Stating the liquor ban has caused huge revenue loss to the state, the RLM MLA said Bihar’s revenue was being drained to neighbouring states such as West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and also Nepal. “Ten years is a long time and we should now hold a comprehensive review of the liquor law,” Anand said, but added the govt should take any decision keeping in view the interests of the general masses.“For a landlocked state like Bihar, liquor ban cannot be the solution,” Anand said, adding he raised the issue even during the Budget session of the state assembly when Nitish headed the NDA govt.
He claimed people have become more aware and educated about the ill effects of liquor consumption and stressed the need to further strengthen awareness rather than continue with blanket prohibition.Former JD(U) minister and Nitish’s close aide Shrawan Kumar, however, claimed prohibition would remain in force as long as Nitish is there. “I don’t think liquor will be available in Bihar. As long as Nitish is in ruling alliance, prohibition will remain in force,” Kumar told reporters in Nalanda on Thursday.
He added Mahatma Gandhi had once said even if he had to become a dictator for a moment to enforce prohibition, he would do so.
“Our leader, Nitish Kumar, has fulfilled Mahatma Gandhi’s pledge,” he said.Bihar govt enforced total prohibition in 2016, imposing a complete ban on the manufacture, trade, storage, transportation, sale and consumption of liquor and intoxicants in the state in the light of protests by the womenfolk. The law was enforced when Nitish headed the three-party Grand Alliance govt.
