Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said that only 8,123 people were in jail arrested in connection with prohibition policy in Bihar and the allegation that over 1 lakh people were in jail was ridiculous. Taking a dig at his rivals, he said in two years a total of 1,27,489 people had been arrested and asked if all the jails in Bihar have capacity to keep 1 lakh prisoners.
On the completion of two years of total prohibition in the State the CM was addressing a function here organised by the excise and prohibition department. He said from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2018, a total of 6,83,370 raids were conducted by excise department and police and 1,05,954 cases were registered. In that period 11.70 lakh litre countrymade and 17.80 lakh litre foreign liquor was seized and destroyed.
Without taking any name Nitish hit back at RJD chief lalu Prasad and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi who of late opposed total prohibition and accused Government of being harsh. The CM said when the total prohibition was promulgated one leader (read lalu) praised the decision but made a U-turn when his party was out of power. Similarly another leader (Manjhi) said that over one lakh people were in jails and most of them are dalits and poor.
“When people involved in the bootlegging, importing and supplying are caught and arrested their caste is not seen. Those arrested belonged to all castes and law is same for everyone. Over 800 people who came from other States were also arrested. I feel pity for the people who make baseless allegations and their statements show their mental level,” said Nitish. RJD had said that it would remove the stringent provisions of the Act while Manjhi said he would quash this legislation.
Nitish said the total prohibition has brought a silent revolution in the society and positive results were coming. People were saving their earnings which were misused in alcohol and the poor families have heaved a sigh of relief and their living condition has changed. The CM said the poor families who had been involved in the bootlegging in villages were being identified and provided alternative source of livelihood like animal husbandry, poultry farming, rickshaw pulling and other jobs.