Farmers Movement Archive

Another BJP MLA seeks review of prohibition law

PATNA: Ahead of the mass pledge to be taken by the state government employees on Fridayagainst consuming liquor, the controversy surrounding the prohibition law took a curious turn on Thursday with the RJD asking the BJP to withdraw its support to the government on the matter and yet another BJP MLA demanding in-depth review of the prohibition law itself. Last week, CM Nitish Kumar had made an in-depth review of the implementation of the prohibition law and identify the lapses. Consequently, police launched a massive drive against illegal sale and consumption of liquor. However, some BJP MLAs appeared unconvinced and started voicing their concerns. “Those in the BJP, or in the NDA government, who are speaking against the prohibition law or its implementation should either themselves resign or withdraw support to the government. Merely issuing statements is meaningless,” RJD leader Alok Mehta said on Thursday. Talking to mediapersons on Thursday, BJP MLA from Begusarai Kundan Kumar had demanded review of the prohibition law, maintaining that new problems have arisen and society is being pushed to the brink of destruction. “An entire generation is being destroyed by this law. As I have heard and even read in newspapers, schoolchildren are being used as courier by the bootleggers to carry liquor bottles in their school bags and make home delivery,” Kundan said. “Other kinds of problems have also arisen. Those who are in the shady business of illegal liquor procurement and supply have also started fighting elections to the panchayati raj bodies. Criminality is spreading fast and youths are getting drawn into it. Even consumption of drugs has started in villages and towns,” he added. Earlier this week, BJP MLA Hari Bhushan Thakur Bachol had gone public saying that the prohibition law should be withdrawn as the Centre has also announced to withdraw the three controversial farm laws. However, JD(U) leader Gulam Rasool Balyavi countered the BJP legislators’ remarks and said, “It is shocking that those people who had taken a pledge and took part in human chain are making such statements on prohibition.” He, however, reiterated that prohibition would continue in Bihar. “Action is being taken against the violators,” he said. (With inputs from Ramashankar)

The Times of India

2021-11-26

Patna