Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has tasked the top officials of police, CID, Intelligence and Special Branch to find out what the people who had been engaged in liquor trade are doing now.
Addressing a meeting to mark the Prohibition Day on Saturday, the CM said, “After the total prohibition in the State what they are doing who were involved in liquor business. If they are doing some other business it is matter of pleasure but if they are doing nothing it is a matter of probe.”
Nitish asked Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, Home secretary Amir Subhani, who also heads excise department, DGP PK Thakur and other police officials, all present on the occasion to conduct census to find out the whereabouts of the people who had been engaged in booze business and their status. The Government, he said, offered them alternative business but only a few got attracted. The traders of illicit liquor are being arrested, he added.
“Prohibition is a firm and final decision and there is no question of any compromise. I don’t want any ifs and buts and excuse on its implementation. Those who cannot live without booze need not live in Bihar,” Nitish said and sought peoples’ cooperation and active participation in implementation of the law. “You have to be on maximum alert else there is a saying Savdhani hati, durghatna ghati (carelessness leads to accident),” he asked people and asserted that drinking was not a fundamental right.
Nitish once again reiterated his support to demonetisation of currency notes but hastened to add that the Centre should take full care of the common people who were feeling hardships due to this strong step. “I personally feel that this decision will curb black money. I will support any move aimed against black money and corruption. I appeal to the Prime Minister to take suitable actions against benami properties and this is the right time to hit at this,” he said.
The CM also advised the PM to impose prohibition on national level because the liquor business was only promoting corrupt business and black money. Hitting back at his critics he said, “Some people are trying to extricate political meaning of my stand on demonetization but I am least bothered,” he said and stoutly refuted media reports about his meeting with BJP president Amit Shah. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who has planned a protest against demonetization in Patna on November 30, had earlier fired a salvo against Nitish saying he had some political compulsions.