BJP ally Manjhi questions Nitish's prohibition in Bihar

BJP ally Hindustan Awami Morcha (HAM) chief and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday questioned Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's much-hyped prohibition policy in Bihar and termed it a failure.

"Prohibition has failed in Bihar. Several state government officials including Secretary-level officers have been consuming liquor in the dry state. It can be confirmed if the state government orders a probe," Manjhi said here while addressing party workers at a dharna.

Manjhi's HAM is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and ever since the Nitish Kumar-led faction of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) joined hands with the BJP and formed the state government last July, he is said to not be comfortable.

Manjhi has already hinted that politics was a game of possibilities, and therefore, he could change sides.

He has further expressed his displeasure over prohibition, saying it had been harming the age-old culture of tribals and Dalits, because they would offer liquor to different deities.

Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal has already declared prohibition a big failure.

Only two days ago, Nitish Kumar demanded "total prohibition across India" and stressed the need for it.

"When Gujarat implemented a liquor ban, Bihar also proved that it can be banned in any state. So, why not ban it in the entire country?" he said.

--IANS

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