Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar lost his cool in the state assembly on Wednesday after the opposition questioned the government’s liquor ban policy. Vijay Kumar Sinha, the leader of the opposition in the Bihar assembly, questioned the liquor ban in the aftermath of deaths caused by tainted liquor in the Saran district.
The administration confirmed six deaths and several hospitalizations after many people allegedly consumed poisonous liquid late Tuesday in the Masrakh locality of the Marhaura sub-division. According to family members of the deceased, more than 15 people consumed country-made liquor in Doila village on Tuesday evening. After they began vomiting and complained of nausea, headache, and uneasiness, their family members drove them to the hospital.
The hooch tragedy sparked outrage in Bihar’s legislative assembly, with the Bharatiya Janata Party claiming it was the result of the state’s complete failure of prohibition. Congress was also quick to demand that prohibition be reviewed.
Nitish Kumar, visibly enraged, yelled at Sinha, “Arey, tum bol rahe ho… (Oh, you are supposed to speak now…)”.
Sudhakar Singh, a former Bihar minister and RJD MLA, also opposed the liquor ban, claiming that prohibiting any “edible item or beverage is mental bankruptcy.”
“A ban cannot be imposed. People should be made aware of the dangers of alcohol consumption through education and counselling “Sudhakar Singh was quoted according to ANI.
Sudhakar Singh resigned as Bihar agriculture minister in October, days after he stirred controversy by telling a gathering in his constituency that his department was infested with “thieves” and he felt like a “chief of theft”.
