BJP ally Hindustan Awami Morcha (HAM) chief and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday questioned Chief Minister Nitish…
Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi
BJP ally Hindustan Awami Morcha (HAM) chief and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday questioned Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s much-hyped prohibition policy in Bihar and termed it a failure.
“Prohibition has failed in Bihar. Several state government officials including Secretary-level officers have been consuming liquor in the dry state. It can be confirmed if the state government orders a probe,” Manjhi said here while addressing party workers at a dharna.
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Manjhi’s HAM is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and ever since the Nitish Kumar-led faction of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) joined hands with the BJP and formed the state government last July, he is said to not be comfortable.
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Manjhi has already hinted that politics was a game of possibilities, and therefore, he could change sides.
He has further expressed his displeasure over prohibition, saying it had been harming the age-old culture of tribals and Dalits, because they would offer liquor to different deities.
Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal has already declared prohibition a big failure.
Only two days ago, Nitish Kumar demanded “total prohibition across India” and stressed the need for it.
“When Gujarat implemented a liquor ban, Bihar also proved that it can be banned in any state. So, why not ban it in the entire country?” he said.
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