Deputy CM: Liquor ban to remain ‘non-negotiable’

Patna: Senior JD(U) leader and deputy CM Vijay Kumar Choudhary on Friday said prohibition in Bihar would remain “non-negotiable”, even as he asserted that the new NDA govt would function under the “blessings” and “vision” of former CM Nitish Kumar, now a Rajya Sabha member.

Speaking during the debate on the confidence motion in the Bihar assembly, Vijay projected continuity in governance and underlined the new leadership would carry forward Nitish’s political and administrative legacy. Thanking CM Samrat Choudhary in the House, Vijay said it had been made clear the prohibition law would continue in the future as well.

Recalling the circumstances in which the liquor ban was introduced in 2016, Vijay said all political parties in the state had supported the law at the time. He pointed out leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav was serving as deputy chief minister when prohibition was enacted. On that basis, he argued the opposition’s present criticism of the policy lacked consistency and seriousness.

Responding to Tejashwi’s charge Bihar had witnessed instability because five govts had changed in the past five years, Vijay turned the attack back on the opposition. He said Tejashwi appeared upset not because govts were changing, but because he was unable to remain part of one. He added political power comes from winning the trust of the people of Bihar and claimed if public support for the NDA continued in the same direction, even a “third generation” of the alliance would govern the state.

Vijay also explained JD(U) had given up the CM’s post to the BJP as a reciprocal political gesture, acknowledging the BJP’s support in 2020 when JD(U)’s numbers had weakened. He said this reflected the “political maturity” of the NDA, noting despite being numerically stronger after the 2020 election, the BJP had then backed Nitish in the interest of stability.

During the same debate, another deputy CM Bijendra Prasad Yadav rejected Tejashwi’s allegation the state’s treasury was empty. He said borrowing was part of established fiscal policy, noting both the government of India and countries like the United States take loans, and asserted Bihar’s finances remained sound.
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