Crime, road accidents down after liquor prohibition: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Strongly defending liquor ban a day before his high-level review meeting on the issue in the wake of a series of hooch tragedies recently, CM Nitish Kumar on Monday said the crime rate and number of road accidents have come down in the state after enforcement of total prohibition.
Taking a dig at the opposition, Nitish said majority of the population support liquor ban but few people are defaming the state. “They issue statements against me because they know it will get them publicity,” he said.
The CM also said his government would launch a special campaign to make people ‘conscious’ about the deadly effect of consuming illicit liquor.
Asked about the rise in the incidents of crime recently, Nitish said the figures did not suggest so. “We take action immediately if any incident of crime occurs. At some places, incidents like the Maoist violence have been reported. It is being investigated. It is a different matter but the incidents of general crime and road accidents have come down, especially after the enforcement of liquor ban. Earlier people used to drive vehicles after drinking,” Nitish said after his weekly ‘janata darbar’ programme.
Talking about the proposed high-level review meeting on Tuesday, Nitish said all issues related to prohibition and the shortcomings in its enforcement would be discussed.
He said all cabinet ministers, who are in-charge of districts, and all senior officers would be present at the meeting. All district magistrates and the SPs would also be connected to the meeting through videoconferencing. “We will discuss everything related to liquor ban and analyse where we are lacking in its implementation. We will take further decisions accordingly,” he said.
“Liquor is a bad thing … We will launch a renewed special propaganda to tell people how the consumption of liquor is dangerous for them,” he said.
Earlier, the CM heard the grievances of altogether 121 people at his janata darbar and issued necessary instructions to the officials of the departments concerned for earlier resolution of their issues.