North India Statesman
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News India Live, Digital Desk: The issue of ‘liquor ban’ has once again become hot in the politics of Bihar. Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) patron and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has launched a scathing attack on the liquor ban policy of his own coalition government. Manjhi has alleged that in the name of prohibition, only the poor and Dalits are being tortured in the state, while big smugglers and influential people are flouting this law. His statement has sparked a new discussion in the political circles of Bihar.
“50% of the people going to jail are from the weaker section of the society”
Citing statistics, Jitan Ram Manjhi said that more than 50 percent of the people lodged in the jails of Bihar under the prohibition law come from economically backward and poor communities. He raised the question that if a poor person drinks 50-100 grams of liquor, he is immediately sent to jail, but why action is not taken against those who are running big syndicates and doing home delivery? Manjhi clearly said that the implementation of this law has completely failed and it has only become a weapon to suppress the poor.
Allegations of nexus between liquor mafia and system
Manjhi did not stop here, he also made serious allegations against the system. He said that the liquor mafia has now become so powerful that they are contesting elections and even winning. He claimed that the illegal liquor trade is flourishing in the state only due to the connivance of the police and lower level officials of the administration. Manjhi appealed to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to seriously consider the practicality of this policy and review it to make it more effective and practical in Bihar like the Gujarat model.
Mention of huge economic loss being incurred by the state
The Union Minister also raised the issue of revenue loss due to prohibition. He said that due to liquor prohibition, Bihar is facing economic loss of billions of rupees every year. He argued that public money was going to other states to purchase liquor as liquor was being imported from neighboring states at expensive prices. According to Manjhi, if this money had come into the state treasury, the development work of Bihar could have been accelerated.
Increased conflict within the alliance?
This statement of Jitan Ram Manjhi has come at a time when there is a lot of stir regarding elections and political equations in Bihar. Although JDU and BJP have been touting the benefits of prohibition, Manjhi’s continuous attacks have exposed differences within the government. The opposition has also joined Manjhi’s voice and started cornering the government. Now it remains to be seen how Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reacts to this strong opposition from his ally.
