RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav mounted an all-out attack on the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar over the recent hooch tragedy. And accused the liquor ban imposed by the Nitish Kumar government as the “biggest corruption” of the latter’s rule. Tejashwi Yadav said that under the garb of JD (U). And their leaders, a parallel economy of Rs 30,000 crore is being run.
The tragic incident, which claimed the lives of 33 people, started a political blame game. Of the deceased, 28 people are from Siwan and 5 from Saran. The tragedy once again raised questions about the effectiveness of Bihar’s liquor ban. Especially as opposition parties continued to raise the issue.
In a scathing attack, Tejashwi Yadav took to social media and attacked Nitish Kumar. He wrote on X, “The Chief Minister who opened liquor shops at every square and crossroads of Bihar and took lives of thousands of people. Due to spurious liquor in the name of liquor ban is now acting like a Mahatma.” Yadav went on to say Nitish Kumar had first encouraged the drinking of alcohol. And was now continuing illegal liquor sales under his government.
Yadav said the number of liquor shops in Bihar went up significantly during the first two terms of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. While there were less than 500 liquor shops in rural areas in 2004-05. He said that in 2014-15, the figure increased to 2,360. He further said that the total number of liquor shops in Bihar increased from 3,000 in 2004-05 to more than 6,000 in 2014-15. According to Yadav, this rapid growth of liquor shops means that Bihar witnessed an average opening of 300 liquor shops daily. During the Nitish Kumar regime, which grew from 51 per day before his era.
Yadav further accused JD(U) leaders, police officials, and the liquor mafia of trading confiscated liquor thereby provoking the flourishing nexus.
He also referred to a report by the National Family Health Survey. It mentioned that despite the ban, more people consume alcohol in Bihar than in Maharashtra. Yadav further said that over 400 people had been arrested in cases related to alcohol, which again weakened the government’s claim of effective prohibition.
“The liquor ban is the biggest corruption of Nitish Kumar’s rule. A parallel economy of about 30,000 crores is thriving through illegal business under the banner of prohibition. And this benefits JD(U) leaders,” Yadav concluded.
SP Awdhesh Dixit from Gopalganj said that a Special Investigation Team was investigating the tragedy. He added that while 14 people have been arrested, raids numbering over 200 have been carried out.
This incident has again brought out the worry in the way the government has handled the liquor ban. And its laxity in not preventing such tragedies.
ANI
