Poll strategist Prashant Kishor has demanded that the liquor ban in Bihar be withdrawn immediately. “There is no evidence in the world that any country, State, or society can say that they have brought socio-economic development to their people by implementing prohibition,” Mr. Kishor said on January 30, in Gopalganj, during his ongoing Jan Suraaj Padyatra, a march on foot across the State, to connect with people.
“Gandhiji has nowhere said that governments should implement prohibition. Rather, he said that drinking alcohol is wrong. There should be awareness on this in society,” he added.
In just December 2022 and January 2023, there have been two hooch tragedies in the State, which have killed 43 people. This is the official number quoted by the State Government that often defends prohibition on the grounds that such tragedies also take place in States that don’t forbid the sale and consumption of alcohol.
As per the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), the percentage of men who drink alcohol in Bihar is 17%.
Making a veiled attack on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Mr. Kishor further said, “Those who have not even read Gandhiji and do not understand him, talk nonsense. I openly challenge Nitish Kumar and his ministers to show me where Gandhiji has said that the government should implement a liquor ban. Bihar is suffering a loss of 20,000 crores every year due to prohibition; it should be withdrawn immediately.”
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