No dilution in prohibition, but change in law possible: Nitish

Amid reports of state government gearing for amending the strict prohibition law, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar clarified on Wednesday that his government will not dilute the ban on alcohol. However, he said that the state government might tweak certain "stern provisions" of the legislature.

The state excise department on Tuesday published advertisements in newspapers, in which it made an appeal to the people to send "constructive suggestions" on the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016 through letters, fax and e-mail to the department till November 12. On Tuesday, Kumar also flew to Delhi to consult and brief senior counsel Gopal Subramaniam, who is arguing the state appeal in the Supreme Court against the Patna High Court order to quash prohibition. These developments fuelled speculations that the state government may bring an amendment in the winter session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly to change "certain sections" of the strict prohibition law.

Kumar on Wednesday clarified that his government would not dilute the prohibition, but "consider change in certain provisions" of the new act. "The new act was implemented on October 2 after being properly discussed by the both houses of the state legislature and Governor's assent. However, as it happens there are always some people, politically or otherwise motivated, who oppose new steps. They are calling the new law draconian and Talibani. I have been asking their suggestions to make it non-draconian, but so far I received only one piece of advice from a veteran journalist and none from the avid opponents of the act. Therefore, I ordered the Excise Department to formally invite suggestions from the public regarding provisions of the act," said the Chief Minister.

"However, I want to make it clear that it's not an effort to dilute prohibition in Bihar. I am a democrat and therefore I want to discuss the suggestions of the opponents of this law. People have objections mainly over the regarding the consumption, possession and/or presumption aspects of the law. We would be happy to discuss these topics and change the provisions without hurting our goal of total prohibition," he said. Kumar will personally listen to selected suggestions on November 14.

The new prohibition has been considered too stringent by the critics. Provisions like 10-year imprisonment for the entire family and property to be pontificated, if a liquor bottle was found were ridiculed by many. Opposition leader Sushil Kumar Modi termed it a sign that the Chief Minister has considered his blunder.

Last month, the Patna High Court ruled the prohibition policy - unveiled in April - as constitutionally invalid. The government appealed in Supreme Court against this order, which set aside High Court's decision. He said the state government will present its case emphatically before the apex court along with the social and economic impact of the liquor ban. For this the state government has ordered the excise department to conduct socio-economic surveys.