Over three crore participants formed a chain which was 11,400 km long.
Over three crore people participated in the human chain formed in Bihar in support of prohibition, which was beyond expectation, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said. As per reports reaching from across the state, more than three crore citizens participated in the human chain programme today," Kumar told reporters hours after the event. The 'unexpected' rush of participants resulted in increase in distance on determined route of human chain to 11,400 km, he said.
Initially it was estimated that more than two crore citizens would participate in the human chain in a distance of 11,292 km. The CM began the human chain by joining hands with RJD President Lalu Prasad on the one side and State Assembly Speaker Vijay Chaudhary on the other side for 45 minutes from 12:15 PM to 1 PM.From Gandhi Maidan the human chain branched into different directions to go across the state.
"The Bihar population at present would have been in between 11 to 12 crore and out of this more than 3 crore coming on streets to form human chain clearly shows that people of Bihar have taken a vow against liquor," the CM said.
Taking pleasure in successful organisation of the mammoth programme, Kumar said directions of the Patna High Court was taken care of and no hindrance was caused in running of essential services.
Asked if the state government would stake claim to Guinness book of world record for registration of largest human chain in world so far, Kumar said "why shall we make any claim...if Guinness book has to remain Guinness book it itself will take notice of this congregation of people in form of human chain." As per official records, today's human chain in Bihar has surpassed the 1050 km long human chain formed in Bangladesh in 2004.
BJP slams Nitish for shoddy planning
Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi alleged that students were coerced to take part in the human chain and claimed over 12 students fainted in different parts of the state during the 45-minute event. "To ensure participation of students in the human chain, coercion was used as a result of which 12 students fainted during the event in different parts of the state," Modi said in a tweet. He also slammed the state government for "shoddy" arrangements for the event claiming that ambulance was not present at some venues, while officials in some hospitals were found to be negligent.
"Two children fell in a pond," he claimed without identifying the place. Modi, who is leader of Opposition in Legislative Council, alleged that the state failed to keep its assurance given to the Patna High Court about making foolproof security and medical arrangements and not to apply force for participation in the event.
"Using lakhs of children for hours for the sake of creating record is unfortunate," the BJP leader said.
Earlier in the day, Modi and several other BJP leaders joined human chain at Siwan where they had gone for two-day state executive meet starting today.
Even while standing holding hands as part of the chain, BJP leaders said that the party has always been supportive of liquor ban but opposed to some stringent clauses in the new Excise Law, 2016 like arrest of all adults in event of recovery of liquor bottle in a family, community fine, etc.
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