Patna, Jan 15: After bitterness over an alleged remark by a writer against the great emperor Ashoka comparing him with Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, both BJP and JD(U), the major coalition partners in NDA government in Bihar, have locked horns again on prohibition as BJP has demanded immediate review of liquor ban law, dubbing it complete failure, following death of four people in hooch tragedy in Nalanda district on Friday late night.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who had launched social reforms drive on December 22 last year to create awareness among the people about ill effects of liquor consumption and mobilise public opinion in favour of liquor ban, suspended the drive for indefinite period after rise in daily Corona positive cases
in Bihar.
Almost all opposition parties have been demanding review of liquor ban law alleging that liquor ban has completely failed in its purpose as liquor is easily being illegally made available to affluent on demand while poor are losing their lives due to consumption of spurious liquor in villages.
It is not only the opposition but BJP, the ruling alliance partner has now demanded immediate review
of liquor ban law following deaths of four people on Friday late night in Nalanda, the home district of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. What BJP said on the issue now, has been raised by opposition since long and Jeetan Ram Manjhi, president of HAM, a minor alliance partner of ruling NDA, also used to echo the same time and again.
State spokesman of BJP Prem Ranjan Patel came down heavily on Nitish Kumar government after four deaths in Nalanda district in hooch tragedy, and demanded immediate review of liquor ban law.
He told media persons here it appeared that liquor ban law was confined only on paper while poor were losing their lives due to consumption of spurious liquor. Patel said that only poor were being arrested and sent to jail for violation of liquor ban law.
Affluent are getting liquor easily and being being allowed to go scot free by administrative machineries, he noted.
President of Bihar unit of BJP Sanjay Jaiswal had also demanded review of liquor ban law saying police and liquor mafia nexus at panchayat level defeated the very purpose of liquor ban law. He also highlighted several loopholes in liquor ban law, saying punishments were not in accordance
with crimes committed.
Jaiswal had also been demanding compensation to family members of those who died after consuming liquor.
Those who consumed liquor and died were culprits of liquor ban law violation and not their family members, he pointed out.
