In his first major announcement since taking over as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the fifth time, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Thursday that liquor will be banned in the state from April 1 next year.
While addressing a function on anti-liquor day, Kumar said, “We want to bring new policies to ban liquor from next year. We want development in the state. I want to implement this from April 1, 2016. I want the money to be used for education, women empowerment which will help us reach to a higher level of development.”
“We tried to impose this ban in 1977-78 as well but it was not effective. But as I had promised women of Bihar who made this complain months ago, I think this ban was important,” he said.
This was one among his pre-poll promises, and he had reportedly decided on working on it, while travelling all across the state asking people what were their demands. Women of Bihar, especially from the Dalit and backward class, were promised by the Nitish that he will take a step in this regard after coming to power.
Kumar said today: “Women in the state started an anti-liquor campaign, I really appreciate that. If people in villages will help us in our campaign against liquor , they will be awarded. I know people will say that even after banning liquor, it will be sold illegally, but if it happens then we will deal with that strongly.”
(With ANI inputs)