Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday challenged his Uttar Pradesh counterpart, Akhilesh Yadav, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to follow his example and introduce prohibition in the state and the country, respectively.
Soon after being re-elected early this year, Kumar had banned liquor in Bihar - it was one of his election promises. On Wednesday, he was addressing a rally at Jewar, a town about 500 km north of Lucknow.
There was a big turnout, but observers said it was not because people wanted to hear him - most had come to watch the ragini folk dancers, who also performed at the venue. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Kumar Modi said: "While Nitish Kumar claims to be a messiah for women by banning liquor, his party had to get the services of dancers to attract crowds to his meeting."
The folk dancers, in fact, left the venue before Kumar's arrival, but initially, the police had to use mild force to control the over-enthusiastic crowd.
Soon after being re-elected early this year, Kumar had banned liquor in Bihar - it was one of his election promises. On Wednesday, he was addressing a rally at Jewar, a town about 500 km north of Lucknow.
There was a big turnout, but observers said it was not because people wanted to hear him - most had come to watch the ragini folk dancers, who also performed at the venue. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Kumar Modi said: "While Nitish Kumar claims to be a messiah for women by banning liquor, his party had to get the services of dancers to attract crowds to his meeting."
The folk dancers, in fact, left the venue before Kumar's arrival, but initially, the police had to use mild force to control the over-enthusiastic crowd.
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