Liquor ban has promoted communal harmony: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today claimed that the liquor ban has promoted communal harmony in the state, with members of all religions supporting the ban.

Kisanganj (Bihar), Dec 8: Terming liquor prohibition as a "revolutionary step", Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today claimed that the move has promoted communal harmony in the state, with members of all religions supporting the ban on alcoholic beverages.

"The decision of liquor ban has further promoted communal harmony in Bihar as members of all religions are whole heartedly supporting booze ban, which is a revolutionary step," he said addressing a 'Chetna Sabha' here as part of his 'Nishchay Yatra'.

Accompanied by Excise and Prohibition Minister Abdul Jalil Mastan and Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, the CM highlighted "positive effects" of liquor ban.

"The road accidents have come down by 19 per cent between April and November this year when compared to the same period last year," Kumar said.

The booze ban has also substantially lowered rate of crimes like murder, kidnapping and riots in the state, he said.

"Cases of murder have gone down by 24 per cent between April to November this year when compared to the same period last year. Likewise, incidents of loot came down by 16 per cent, kidnapping for ransom by 48 per cent and riots by 37 per cent," Kumar said.

As part of the Nishchay Yatra, the Chief Minister is taking feedback from people about prohibition. He asserted that liquor ban had resulted in economic prosperity of the state, which is reflected by rise in the sale of cars and tractors, milk and sweets in the last seven months since prohibition came into force.

The JD(U) leader told the gathering about the human chain which would be formed by more than two crore citizens on January 21 in favour of the ban, and urged people to participate in it.

PTI