Nitish for complete ban on country made liquor in Bihar

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday solicited people's cooperation in the implementation of a complete ban on country-made liquor in the state from next month.

"The ban (on the manufacture, trade and sale of country made) on liquor will be implemented with people's cooperation and not with the fear of either government's machinery or the law," Kumar said while inaugurating a two-day Bihar Diwas celebrations at the historic Gandhi Maidan.

He said that the government would take the help of school children who would take pledge from their parents not to consume liquor.

Kumar said that teachers, Vikas Mitra, Tola Sewak, Anganwadi workers and others would be roped in for creation of a positive atmosphere for implementation of ban on country-made liquor in the state.

Kumar said that some women had demanded a total prohibition on alcohol in the state during an official function last year in Patna to which "I promised them that I would enforce ban on liquor if I return to power."

Kumar said that he had announced on November 26 on the occasion of 'Prohibition Day' that his government would implement a complete ban on country made liquor from April 1, 2016.

The government will bring a bill in the ongoing budget session of state legislature that would have a provision of death penalty for those caught manufacturing illicit liquor, he said adding that country made liquor must be destroyed by March 31.

Kumar asserted that he would not allow 'home delivery' of liquor in the state.