‘Don’t Understand Why People Drink’: Nitish Kumar Amid Hooch Death Tragedy

The meeting comes after over 40 persons died in the state after consuming illicit liquor in the past few weeks.

File photo of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

(Photo: Indrajit Dey/ IANS)

Ahead of an assessment meeting on the state's prohibition policy scheduled for Tuesday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday, 15 November, reiterated that people can die if they consume liquor.

"People can die if they consume liquor. It is a bad substance. I don't understand why people drink liquor," Nitish Kumar said while interacting with mediapersons after the 'Janta Darbar' on Monday.

This came amid the CM claiming that 'some people had turned against him' over the ban on liquor in the state, NDTV reported.

On Tuesday, the Janata Dal (United) leader is scheduled to interact with every district magistrate, superintendent of police and senior officials of the state at an assessment meeting.

However, the leader questioned, "Have they forgotten that this was implemented with everyone's approval? Had any party opposed it then, be it the ruling side or the opposition?"

The meeting comes in the wake of over 40 persons dying due to consuming illicit liquor in the past few weeks in Bihar.

"We will try to find out the loose gaps besides strictly implementing the rules to prevent violations. We will take stringent action against the violators," Kumar said.

The chief minister also said that the ban on liquor in the state was imposed after receiving complaints from women, with the consent of the Opposition leaders in April 2016.

He further added:

"We are also making efforts to educate the people about the negative consequences of consuming liquor. We have directed the concerned officials to take adequate measures in their respective jurisdictions. People involved in illicit liquor trade will be punished."

'Gangs of Nitish Kumar Are Involved': Tejashwi Yadav

Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, said: "He (Nitish Kumar) used to hold high-level meetings with the same officials and ministers. What change has he made? Liquor tragedies keep occurring in Bihar with people losing their lives," IANS reported.

"I firmly believe that the gangs of Nitish Kumar are involved in these incidents," Tejashwi Yadav said while pointing at the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual assault on minor girls and the latest murder of Rintu Singh Purnea where the family members of the deceased alleged the involvement of Cabinet minister Lesi Singh.

(With inputs from NDTV and IANS.)