Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, Apr 6: Amid recurring incidents of illicit liquor-related deaths in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav on Monday strongly criticised the Nitish Kumar government, alleging widespread corruption and ineffective enforcement of the state’s prohibition policy.

Marking 10 years of Bihar’s liquor ban, Tejashwi claimed the policy has largely failed due to a nexus between certain administrative officials and the liquor mafia, calling prohibition “Nitish Kumar’s biggest institutional corruption.” He alleged that an illegal parallel liquor economy worth nearly Rs 40,000 crore has emerged under the policy.

Highlighting enforcement issues, he noted that departments responsible for prohibition, including the Home and Excise Departments, remain under the Chief Minister’s direct control, raising questions about accountability. Citing official data, he said that over 11 lakh cases have been registered, more than 16 lakh arrests made, and over 5 crore litres of liquor seized since prohibition began, including 3.7 lakh litres per month in 2026 alone. Tejashwi argued that these numbers represent only the “tip of the iceberg,” estimating actual daily consumption at around 17 lakh litres.

He also pointed to a rise in narcotics trade, claiming a 40 per cent increase in drugs like cannabis and heroin among Bihar’s youth, attributing this partly to the failure of the liquor ban. Questioning how large quantities of liquor continue to enter the state, he demanded transparency in consumption data rather than focusing solely on seizure statistics.

Tejashwi further alleged that the expansion of liquor shops under Nitish Kumar’s earlier tenure facilitated widespread access to alcohol before prohibition. Comparing historical trends, he noted that the number of liquor outlets doubled from under 3,000 between 1947–2005 to nearly 6,000 between 2005–2015, suggesting the policy masked “institutionalised corruption.”

He accused the prohibition law of disproportionately affecting the poor, Dalit, Backward, and Extremely Backward communities, with the majority of the 16 lakh arrests falling within these groups. Citing judicial observations, he claimed that while lower-level offenders face arrests, senior officials and suppliers largely remain untouched, reflecting selective enforcement.

The comments come as the death toll from the East Champaran hooch tragedy reaches nine, with over 15 others admitted to Sadar Hospital, Motihari, fighting for their lives. Tejashwi demanded strict action against officials allegedly complicit in undermining the law, questioning the state government’s commitment to public safety and accountability.