'If Someone Consumes Liquor, They'll Die' — Bihar CM Nitish Says Chapra Hooch Tragedy Is An 'Example'

Bihar Liquor Ban: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's statement comes as the death toll in the Chapra hooch tragedy has risen to 39.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Thursday interacted with the media about the recent hooch tragedy in the state

Source : ANI

New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said that the hooch tragedy in the state's Chapra region is an example of how liquor is injurious to health, "If someone consumes liquor, they will die — an example is before us".

The death toll in the hooch tragedy in Saran district's Chapra area rose to 39 on Thursday.

"Even when there was no liquor ban here, people died due to spurious liquor - even in other states. People should be alert. As there is a liquor ban here, something spurious will be sold due to which people die. Liquor is bad and shouldn't be consumed," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

"Last time, when people died due to spurious liquor, someone said they should be compensated. If someone consumes liquor, they will die — we have an example is before us. The deaths should be condoled, those places should be visited and people should be made to understand," he added.

Chapra hooch tragedy | Last time, when people died due to spurious liquor, someone said they should be compensated. If someone consumes liquor, they'll die - example is before us. This should be condoled, those places should be visited & people be explained: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pic.twitter.com/JCjY439kL0

— ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2022

Defending the liquor ban in Bihar, the Chief Minister further said he had instructed officers to not nab the poor people involved in the liquor sale for a petty sum. "People manufacturing liquor and carrying out alcohol business should be caught. Ready to give Rs 1 Lakh to people to start their work. We'll raise the amount if needed, but nobody should get involved in this business," he said.

बिहार सीएम नीतीश कुमार ने शराब बंदी पर क्या कहा? सुनिए...@romanaisarkhan | https://t.co/smwhXUzF4C #Bihar #BiharCM #NitishKumar #LiquorBan pic.twitter.com/05akLWuzSD

— ABP News (@ABPNews) December 15, 2022

He further stressed, "The liquor ban has benefitted several people. A large number of people have given up alcohol...This is good. Several people have happily accepted this. But there are some troublemakers. I have told officers to identify the actual troublemakers and nab them."

The statement comes after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday lost his cool in the Bihar assembly when leaders of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked his government over deaths due to spurious liquor in Saran district's Chapra area.

The BJP protested the deaths as Leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha questioned the state's liquor ban policy since 2016.

(With ANI Inputs)