If You Drink, You'll Die: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar As Hooch Tragedy Death Toll Rises To 39

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said it's natural that a person would die if they consume liquor. 

Nitish's comment came as the death toll of Saran hooch tragedy rose to 39. 

The high number of deaths have led to a political storm in Bihar with the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asking Nitish to reconsider Bihar's prohibition policy and Nitish and ruling Janta Dal (United) insisting that Bihar needs tougher enforcement of the policy.

Nitish also said that he has instructed officials to not take strict actions against poor people violating prohibition policy and the focus is on big players.

On Wednesday, Nitish-led JD(U) and BJP had clashed in the Bihar assembly. BJP MLAs entered the well of the assembly hall, raised slogans accusing the Nitish Kumar government of failure to stop the sale of illicit liquor and demanding compensation to family members of those who lost their lives.

What did Nitish Kumar say?

Nitish said that drinking is bad and the example is in front of everyone that you will die if you drink. 

Nitish further said that his government is willing to provide financial assistance to people to set up their own work to wean them off alcohol. He also said that people die from spurious liquor throughout the country and such deaths took place in Bihar even before the prohibition policy.

"Those who will drink liquor will die. The example is in front of us. We should express grief over such cases and go to these areas and inform them...But some people still engage in wrongdoing. How many people are caught? I have told officials to not catch poor people. Catch the main people, those manufacturing liquor and doing business. For others, I am saying poor people should not engagein this. They should do something else. We are willing to give them Rs 1 lakh to set up their own work," said Nitish to journalists.

Nitish's comments came under criticism on social media, with some users terming it insensitive and one comparing it with comedian Abhishek Upmanyu's viral clip in which he mocks TV show Crime Patrol and says, "Dekho yaar, criminal to crime karega hi. Tum satark kyu nahi rehte? (See friends, the criminal will commit the crime. Why don't you stay alert?)."

Bihar hooch tragedy

Deaths have been reported in Mashrak and Isuapur police station areas of Saran district. 

Sale and consumption of alcohol was completely banned in Bihar by the Nitish Kumar government in April 2016 but enforcement has been patchy, resulting in illegal sale that at times leads to deaths as such liquor is often not safe.

The BJP asked Nitish to call an all-party meeting over the issue and reconsider Bihar's 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," said BJP leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh.

The BJP also demanded compensation for the dead but the JD(U) said it cannot be given as those consuming liquor were criminals.

Bihar Parliamentary Affairs minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said, “BJP members should understand that consuming liquor in Bihar is a crime and deaths thus caused cannot be compensated for. It will be tantamount to supporting liquor consumption”.

(With PTI inputs)