PATNA: Citing behavioural change in men after total prohibition in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said social change due to the ban was transcending the boundaries of Bihar triggering similar demands in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh by women.
“Women groups in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh have invited me to help imposition of total ban on liquor there too,” Kumar said addressing a function in Samastipur to inaugurate annual ‘Baba Kwal Maharaj’ fair.
“A message has come from Wardha district in Maharashtra that women wish to come to Bihar to thank me for ordering blanket ban in sale and consumption of alcohol,” the Chief minister, who announced the state dry on April 5, said.
In Tamil Nadu, the two main contending political parties AIADMK and DMK have announced to go for prohibition in the state if they won the state elections, Kumar said adding, foundation of a social change has been laid in Bihar through the ban on liquor.
He said people of Samastipur told me that menfolk after shunning the habit of drinking, were now helping their wives in kitchen.
Kumar said peace has returned to villages in particular after prohibition as people who used to fight after consuming alcohol have stopped quarrelling and domestic violence against women have also come down due to prohibition.
“The ban on alcohol has been implemented in Bihar after a thorough study of past efforts in this direction including the one executed by socialist leader Karpoori Thakur in 1977 which unfortunately had to be taken back in one year,” he said.
Kumar came down heavily on opposition leaders for “provoking” the Pasi community engaged in toddy business in the name of prohibition, although there was no ban on toddy.
Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi and former Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi have been attacking Kumar over the toddy issue.
Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and a host of ministers including Madan Mohan Jha, Alok Mehta and Rajya Sabha member Ramnath Thakur were present on the occasion.
PTI