Both houses of Bihar legislature were adjourned indefinitely on Monday ahead of schedule amid backlash over Bihar hooch trajedy.
The Nitish Kumar-led Janta Dal-United (JD-U) government in Bihar has been under criticism from Opposition and even its supporters over dozens of deaths from illicit liquor and the government's denial of compensation to the deceased.
Nitish has also attracted criticism for his conduct in the Bihar assembly and his public remarks in which he said it's natural to die if you'd drink alcohol.
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked Nitish to reconsider Bihar's prohibition policy. The BJP has been joined by Nitish-supporter CPI(ML)-Liberation in criticism over denial of compensation to the deceased.
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Bihar assembly Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary and Vidhan Parishad Chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur adjourned the houses amid a walkout staged by the Opposition BJP.
First, Nitish angrily lashed out in the assembly. Visibly agitated and throwing his hands around, Nitish directly addressed Opposition MLAs and said they would no longer be tolerated.
Then, Nitish said it' natural to die if you drink. He also said that such deaths throughout the country.
Bihar government puts death toll at 38
Bihar Prohibition Minister Sunil Kumar said 38 people have died in the recent Bihar hooch tragedy.
The clarification by Kumar comes at a time when reports say the actual double is almost double and Opposition says it's in hundreds.
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PTI earlier reported that unconfirmed reports claimed that up to 60 people died by drinking illicitly brewed country liquor in Saran. The official toll says 30 died in Saran, six in Siwan, and two in Begusarai.
Earlier, the opposition BJP has claimed inside the Bihar assembly as well as in a memorandum submitted to Governor Phagu Chauhan that the number of deaths was "more than 100".
A similar claim was made by Chirag Paswan earlier, a BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) sympathiser and strident critic of Nitish.
"I visited Saran today to meet the bereaved family members and was appalled to learn that the administration was putting pressure on them not to report deaths caused by hooch or attribute these to other causes so that the magnitude of the tragedy is downplayed. I am told that the number of those who have died may be even as high as 200," Paswan told PTI-Bhasha over phone.
No provision to compensate: JD(U)
Nitish-led ruling JD(U) has continued to insist that the government cannot compensate people indulged in crime.
Sale, consumption, and manufacturing of alcohol is prohibited in Bihar since 2016. However, the enforcement of Bihar prohibition policy has been patchy.
Prohibition Minister Sunil Kumar said, "Neither the IPC nor the CrPC provides for compensation to a person accused of a crime. Consuming any type of liquor is illegal under the prohibition law in Bihar."
Earlier, the BJP and Opposition leader Chirag Paswan cited compensation provided to deceased in 2016 to demand compensation.
Paswan said, "Why is he [Nitish] adopting double standards? The adjoining district of Gopalganj was struck by a hooch tragedy in 2016, shortly after the prohibition law had come into force. He compensated the victims then."
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Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi echoed similar views as that of Paswan.
"The CM had compensated the victims of Gopalganj in 2016 despite prohibition. Now he says that the liquor ban will be affected by compensating Saran victims. This shows that he is capable of taking a U-turn in every matter," said Modi.
However, Nitish government countered this line of argument and insisted that the two are different cases.
Bihar Prohibition Minister Sunik Kumar said the compensation in 2016 was provided to victims of a hooch tragedy in Gopalganj "through recovery made from those who were convicted in the case. That is the provision under the law. The government cannot immediately release ex-gratia in this case."
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Besides the BJP, the CPI(ML)-L has also opposed the Nitish government over the issue of compensation. It supports the government from outside the 'Mahagatbandhan' coalition.
Earlier, CPI(ML)-L called for "not just compensation but rehabilitation (punarvaas) of families" which may have been in dire straits upon the death of a breadwinner in the hooch tragedy.
In a statement, the CPI (ML)-Liberation said, "Most of the deceased belong to very poor families... The hooch tragedy has destroyed many homes. Its impact has now reached the adjoining district of Siwan...The government must show sensitivity and agree to not just pay an ex-gratia but also take the responsibility of treatment of those who have fallen ill after consuming liquor, besides the education of the children of those who have died. It must also set up de-addiction centres so that the scourge of alcoholism may be nipped in the bud."
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Reconsider Bihar prohibition policy: BJP
Union minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh has asked the Bihar government to call an all-party meeting and reconsider Bihar prohibition policy.
"If a policy is not successful, then it should be reconsidered...Every day people in Bihar are dying due to spurious liquor while Kumar remains obstinate about his policy which has failed. Crime is on a rise. Liquor has become like God which may not be visible but is present everywhere in the state," Singh said.
Pataliputra MP and former Union minister Ram Kripal Yadav echoed Singh's view and said Nitish should not make prohibition a matter of personal prestige.
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"He should either implement it effectively or resign," he added.
(With PTI inputs)
