Nitish Kumar talks tough for implementation of liquor ban

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday 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. After announcing Bihar a total dry state on April 5, the CM has been moving across the state for its strict execution.