Nitish talks tough for implementation of liquor ban

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said any police officer found wanting in implementation of the liquor ban will not get a posting in any police station for 10 years.
Kumar, who kept his poll promise of total prohibition in the state, also wondered why a total ban on alcohol could not be enforced across the country.
"The officer in-charge of the police station where some irregularities in implementation of liquor ban are found will not get posting in any police station for next 10 years," he said at a function at Bhagalpur.
He asserted the officials and policemen found wanting in successful implementation of total prohibition in the state would face stern action.

"If a complete ban on alcohol can be imposed in Bihar why the same cannot be done in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh or Odisha?" Kumar, arguing for a total prohibition on alcohol in the country, said.
Such slogans would be raised in other states in the coming days against liquor, he said, adding, "In fact why cannot it be done in the entire country?"

"Prohibition has taken shape of a social movement which would bring a change in the society," he said.
Kumar exhorted women to be active to ensure complete ban on alcohol was successful.
On the mechanism to enforce the ban in his state, he said, a control room has been established in Patna under state police chief in which information regarding lacunae in implementation of liquor ban could be given, he exhorted people.

Nitish, however, stressed that "jan chetna" or mass
awareness as well as a stringentliquorlaw is needed for better implementation of prohibition.
The Bihar CM said he would ask his Chhattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh to enforce liquor ban as people have already started spreading awareness for prohibition.
He also requested the Chhattisgarh Government to send a team to Bihar to see the "successful enforcement of liquor ban and the response of people to the measure."
"Chhattisagrh is a peaceful and prosperous state, and people are good here. Nature has given a lot of things to the state which is full of natural resources. If liquor ban is implemented here, it will become a model state," he said.

Notably, Chhattisgarh Cabinet had recently approved the Chhattisgarh Excise (Amendment) Bill 2017, which will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly later this week.
The government aims to create a corporation that will facilitate the sale of both foreign and Indian liquor through government outlets.
However, the decision has drawn a flak, with women and various social groups having launched protests in several parts of the state demanding a ban on liquor.
The opposition Congress has tried to disrupt the proceeding of the House on many occasions during the ongoing Budget session, seeking ban on liquor.