Liquor ban in Bihar from April, 2016, says Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said liquor will be banned in the state from April 1 next year, making the first major announcement since he was sworn in as chief minister for the fifth time last week.

"We want to bring new policies to ban liquor from next year. We want development in the state. I want to implement this from April 1, 2016. I want the money to be used for education, women empowerment which will help us reach to a higher level of development," Kumar said, while addressing a function here on anti-liquor day.

Keeping his promise to a group of women at an event months ago of banning liquor, Kumar said: "Women in the state started an anti-liquor campaign, I really appreciate that. If people in villages will help us in our campaign against liquor , they will be awarded. I know people will say that even after banning liquor, it will be sold illegally, but if it happens then we will deal with that strongly.