PATNA: The Bihar opposition today came out against the stringent provision of imprisoning all adult members of a family in case of recovery of liquor from a house at the all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on prohibition.
The CM, who chaired the meeting, heard patiently the suggestions and objections raised by the leaders.
A total of 15 out of 22 representatives of various political parties spoke at the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs minister Shrwan Kumar told reporters.
RJD leader and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, RJD leader and Finance Minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Congress chief and state Education Minister Ashok Choudhary, BJP leaders Prem Kumar and Mangal Pandey, former chief minister and HAM(S) president Jitan Ram Manjhi, LJP MLA Raju Tiwari, CPI MLC Kedar Pandey and others attended the meeting
After holding the ‘Lok Samvad’ with 40 representatives from different walks of lives, the CM had convened the all-party meeting on prohibition.
The CM said the meeting was called as the Opposition had often termed the liquor law as “draconian” and “Talibani”, so he wished to hear their suggestions on how to make the law “non-draconian” and “non-Talibani”.
Speaking at the meeting, the CM said, “If we all remain united it would give strength to the campaign (prohibition). Difference of opinion would boost wrongdoers.”
According to an official statement, the CM said many suggestions were put forward in the meeting.
“The government would take legal opinion on suggestions made at the all-party meeting and also at Lok Samvad. The proposal would be brought to the House,” he said.
The two Houses of Bihar Legislature is all set to hold the Winter session from 25 November.
PTI