Bihar hooch tragedies figure in Rajya Sabha

Members from alliance partners BJP and JD-U took strong objection to Paswan raising an issue concerning law and order, which is a state subject as the LJP leader accused the Bihar government of "giving a bottle of liquor in the hands of the poor".

JD-U members Shivanand Tewari and N K Singh accused Paswan of "lying" as the LJP chief claimed that more than 133 persons have lost their lives due to consumption of "poisonous liquor" in Bihar and mushrooming of liquor shops in every "nook and corner of the state".

Paswan also made reference to the latest hooch tragedy in Gaya that claimed 12 lives. The police have booked brother of a former RJD minister in the case.

"Bihar government has got liquor shops opened in every nook and corner of the state," he said, finding fault with the liquor policy of the state.

"Dismiss Bihar government. Bihar government is handing over liquor bottles in the hands of the poor," he said, as members from BJP and JD-U objected.

Ravishankar Prasad (BJP) said law and order is a state subject and added that it is not permissible to raise the issue in Parliament.

RJD members, however, backed Paswan on the issue.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, who was in the Chair, asked Paswan "not to make remarks against the state government".