A powerful voice from within the ruling fold has rocked Bihar politics. Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi unleashed a tirade against the Nitish Kumar government’s liquor prohibition, labeling it a farce that shields smugglers and crushes casual consumers.
In Gaya, Manjhi recounted how review committees vowed leniency for those with minimal liquor, like a single ‘pouaa’. But on the ground, police pounce on them ruthlessly. ‘Meanwhile, vehicles brimming with liters escape after grease payments,’ he revealed. Home deliveries thrive, and high-end booze from beyond borders is gobbled up, exporting Bihar’s wealth.
RLM MLA Madhav Anand set the stage by urging a full-scale review in the assembly. Nearly ten years post-2016 ban, he questioned outcomes: social benefits versus economic hits, with illegal trade uncurbed. His mix of praise for Nitish’s guts and call for fixes sparked statewide debate.
The minister’s words expose systemic rot. Prohibition, Nitish’s pet project, promised sobriety and safety but delivers corruption and scarcity. Revenue shortfalls mount, families pay premiums for contraband, and police integrity lies in tatters.
This insider critique amplifies calls for change as elections loom. Manjhi urges Nitish to reflect on the ban’s toll. In Bihar’s volatile arena, such fissures could alter alliances and agendas, forcing a reckoning with a policy that’s equal parts ambition and anomaly.