Real 'Vikash Parv' only by ordering liquor ban: Nitish

Patna, Jun 14: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today termed as "fake" the 'Vikash Parv' being celebrated by the NDA government on completion of two years in office, saying true celebrations will be if Prime Minister Narendra Modi gets the liquor ban imposed at least in BJP-ruled states.

"Nowdays BJP-led NDA government is celebrating 'nakli' (fake) 'Vikash Parv' across the country.

I request the Prime Minister that true celebration of 'Parv' would be only if he gets prohibition imposed at least in BJP-ruled states," Kumar said addressing a function on prohibition here.

"While BJP leaders are falsely drum beating in the name of 'Vikash Parv', in Bihar every household is in festive mood after total prohibition," he said addressing members of women self help groups of Patna division.

Kumar said as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked as the Chief Minister of Gujarat where liquor is banned for a long time it shows he is in favour of it.

"I request him to get the liquor ban implemented in at least the BJP-ruled states." He visited different divisional headquarters to get feed back on the announcement of complete ban on sale and consumption of alcohol in Bihar since April 5 this year and today's function here was the end of that exercise.

Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav, Education Minister Ashok Choudhary, Rural Development Minister Shrawan Kumar, Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and DGP P K Thakur were present in the function at S K Memorial hall.

Kumar recalled it was the same S K Memorial hall where on appeal of some women to ban alcohol on July 9, 2015 he had promised that if he returned to power he would get prohibition promulgated in the state.

"I have fulfilled my commitment by banning alcohol," he said. Kumar claimed that crime rate had come down substantially after prohibition order.

"Police crime figures of the months of April and May this year reveal that rape cases have decreased by 36 per cent during the period as compared to last year, kidnapping for ransom 78 per cent, dacoity 45 per cent and road accidents by 32 per cent," he said. Kumar asked the women to maintain a constant vigil in favour of prohibition.

PTI