Bihar’s decade-old battle against alcohol took a dramatic turn as Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi publicly lambasted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s administration. Addressing a gathering in Gaya, Manjhi decried the liquor ban’s skewed implementation, where small-scale drinkers suffer police atrocities and big smugglers enjoy free rein.
‘The third review explicitly stated no arrests for small quantities, yet police ignore it. They pocket bribes from massive hauls while tormenting the little guy,’ Manjhi asserted. He highlighted the surge in home-delivered liquor and premium imports from outside Bihar, draining household budgets and state coffers since the total ban kicked in on April 1, 2016.
Triggering this renewed scrutiny is RLM MLA Madhav Anand’s assembly intervention. In Nitish’s presence, Anand demanded a thorough audit of the law’s impact after ten years, pointing to persistent illegal supplies. While applauding the CM’s resolve, he insisted on addressing enforcement gaps.
Manjhi’s intervention paints a picture of policy gone awry. What began as a moral crusade has morphed into a racket sustaining mafias and eroding trust in law enforcement. Economic fallout is stark: lost taxes, inflated prices, and outward cash flow to suppliers in other states.
As whispers of policy reversal grow louder, Manjhi’s bold stance challenges the NDA leadership. For Nitish, whose political identity is tied to prohibition, this could be a defining moment. Will reform follow, or will the status quo persist amid mounting criticism?