In a recent declaration, Bihar’s new Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary, has reaffirmed the state’s stringent liquor ban, emphasizing its historical importance and the backing it receives from key figures like Nitish Kumar and PM Modi.
Patna: The decade-long ban on the manufacturing, sale and consumption of liquor will continue in Bihar. The newly appointed CM Samrat Choudhary on Friday said he was not going to either lift or give any sort of concession on the ban on liquor in the state.“Who will dare to lift the liquor ban, which was enforced by a personality like Nitish Kumar and appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi?” Choudhary asked during an informal discussion with mediapersons at the chief minister’s secretariat here. The media persons had gathered there on the invitation from the chief minister’s office.Choudhary, who is the first CM from the BJP in Bihar, also recalled how PM Modi lauded Nitish’s decision on liquor ban during one of his visits to Patna.The liquor ban was first introduced in April 2016 across the state by the then CM Nitish.Some leaders in the ruling NDA recently raised voices against the liquor ban after Choudhary took charge as the CM. They also demanded withdrawal of the ban on liquor.Choudhary also said his govt would try to bring big investments worth about Rs5 lakh crore in Bihar within a year. “If big industries are not invited, how will revenue be generated?” he questioned, while emphasising his commitment to ensure big investments in the state.
He also said all identity cards and documents of around 22 lakh “infiltrators” have been deleted in Bihar. These 22 lakh people are the part of 89 lakh electors whose names were deleted during the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls by the election commission, the CM said.Choudhary said his govt’s main focus would be on improving the functioning at the circle, block and police station level because most of the common people’s works are related to these three offices. He said the functioning of each circle, block and police station would be monitored directly from the chief minister’s office. The DMs would be asked to work on improving the functioning of these three offices. He also said the non-performing DMs and SPs would be taken to task in due course.
