'Govt decision on prohibition due to Opposition pressure'

Welcoming the Nitish Kumar-led grand secular alliance government's decision to implement complete prohibition in Bihar, former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today said the state government yielded to Opposition pressure for complete prohibition.
"I am happy the state government has yielded to our demand of enforcing complete prohibition in the state. We welcome the government's decision and extend our pledge that we would cooperate (with the government) in enforcing prohibition in the state," Modi told reporters.
Modi was reacting to the cabinet decision to enforce complete prohibition in the state.
Modi, a senior BJP leader, said that party has been of the view that partial ban will not serve the purpose and hence the state government should seriously consider introducing complete prohibition in the state for its easy and effective implementation (of the ban).

"The government's move would not be successful unless and until complete prohibition is implemented in the state," Modi asserted.
When the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Bill 2016 was being debated and passed in the state legislature, BJP had clearly stated that if the government really wants to ban the manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor in the state then it would have to go for complete prohibition, otherwise it would promote illegal trade and business of liquor in the state.
"You (Nitish Kumar's) promised complete prohibition and not that of partial ban on liquor. We have been raising the issue for past three months that government should come out with a time-table for enforcing complete prohibition," Modi said.

The cabinet today gave its nod to Registration, Excise and Prohibition Department's proposal to ban 'sale and consumption' of IMFL under Section 19 (4) of Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act 2016.