No ban on toddy, Opposition politicising issue: Nitish Kumar

He, however, made it clear that there was no ban on toddy and the state government was following the 1991 guidelines, which prohibits sale of toddy within 50 m of educational institutions, temples, hospital, bazaars and haats among others and the same within 100 m in rural areas.

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Kumar was addressing a gathering of Vikas Mitras for whom a workshop on ‘Complete Prohibition in Bihar’ was organised by the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Department on 125th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar.

Coming down heavily on politicians for attacking him in the name of Pasi community, Kumar said they were not their benefactors and were only indulging in politics.

“They (leaders) want that people from Pasi community, traditionally occupied in toddy business, to always climb palm trees and never earn their name by educating themselves,” Kumar said, reminding people a hooch tragedy last year was the result of spurious toddy, blended with urea.

“Now these people (leaders) are advocating toddy just for the sake of politicising the issue,” he said.

Kumar’s assertion came in the wake of the criticism by different political parties and its leaders for his decision to enforce a complete prohibition in the state from April 5 that also included strict adherence to the 1991 guidelines.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi yesterday charged Nitish Kumar of targeting the Pasi community by arresting them for selling toddy.

“When there is no ban on sale of toddy under the Bihar Excise Act, then on what ground Principal Secretary (Excise) K K Pathak has directed the district officials to crackdown on sale of toddy?” he had asked.

BJP’s alliance partner and former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi had termed Nitish Kumar as an “enemy of the Pasi community and that’s why the CM has banned toddy.”

“On the advise of IAS officer K K Pathak, Nitish Kumar has banned toddy in the state. Both Nitish and Pathak are enemies of Pasi community. Even doctors prescribe toddy, which is natural juice and banning the palm tree product is like inflicting torture on SC category people,” Manjhi said at a toddy sellers protest here on Monday last.

Nitish, who assured the toddy selling community that their employment would not be affected, favoured ‘Neera’, which he said was a health drink and would be processed, packaged and marketed from next year.

“We have prepared a scheme under which everything from palm tree juice to all other products made from palm tree will be promoted and marketed through Self Help Groups and cooperative… One can earn up to Rs 6,000 every year from a single tree,” he said.

Taking a firm stand on total liquor ban, Nitish said he has taken the decision after giving much thought to it and was quite confident of its successful implementation.

“People say liquor ban has proved to be a failure in the US, Gujarat and hence it will also fail in the state. I have taken it as a challenge… Why will it not be successful?” Kumar said asserting the ban would be made successful with people’s cooperation and with the help of the police and civil administration.

Kumar said the liquor ban has gained momentum everywhere in the country and both prominent parties in Tamil Nadu have promised similar steps in the ongoing elections.

The Chief Minister, who admitted it was his efforts which had increased the revenue from Rs 300 crore to Rs 5,000 crore, assured that license fees for running bars would be entirely returned.

“We will return the license fees. The income of Rs 5,000 crore is from unethical trade and I don’t care for the loss at all.”

Education minister Ashok Choudhary, Mines and Geology minister Muneshwar Choudhary and state police chief P K Thakur were present at the function.

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