Bihar Hooch Tragedy: The government and the Opposition in Bihar are again at loggerheads over the state’s liquor ban. The development comes just a week after nearly 40 lives were lost in the Bihar hooch tragedy. After the deaths, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav was quick to slam the government, claiming that the Nitish Kumar government's prohibition policy had failed. He also alleged that alcohol was being sold openly in Bihar.
The RJD even took a dig at CM Nitish Kumar’s party, JDU, on Thursday, saying, "JDU means 'Jahan Daru Unlimited [Where Alcohol is Unlimited'." NDA leader and Union minister Jitan Ram Manji, however, Manjhi hit back at Tejashwi Yadav.
On Thursday evening, speaking to mediapersons at Patna Airport, Manjhi said: "Wo peete hain isiliye unko lagta hai [He drinks that's why he is saying this]. Alcohol is prohibited here... What can we do if anybody drinks secretly...He must know because he may be involved in smuggling."
The Congress, too, slammed Manjhi's statement. Congress spokesperson Rajesh Rathore remarked that Manjhi’s comments had exposed the Nitish Kumar government. He said Manjhi had admitted that alcohol is available in Bihar households. Rathore further alleged that Manjhi's own son drinks alcohol, which may be why he had assumed that others, such as Tejashwi, do as well.
The recent deaths after the consumption of hooch occurred in Chhapra, Siwan, and Gopalganj.
Sale and consumption of alcohol was banned in Bihar in 2016 to fulfil Nitish Kumar's pre-poll promise to the women of the state.