ARE MAHAPAAPIS ENCOURAGED BY NITISH KUMAR’S BIHAR GOVERNMENT?

Patna (The Quiver) : Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar called the people “Mahapaapi” who consume liquor and said the state government cannot be made liable for providing relief to those who die following the consumption of toxic liquor. 

The Chief Minister said even Mahatma Gandhi opposed liquor consumption and those who go against his principles are “Mahapaapi and Mahaayogya.”. “I don’t consider these people Indians,” Mr Kumar said.

Nitish kumar said this responding to the Opposition’s allegations that hooch tragedies were continuing in Bihar because the state government failed to implement the liquor ban effectively.

The Opposition has maintained that the ban on liquor remained only on paper, while the BJP had alleged that officers are not strictly enforcing the prohibition law and are using it to extort money from people.

Kumar  said people consume hooch despite knowing that liquor consumption is harmful, and thus, they are responsible for the consequences, not the state government.

“It’s their fault. They consume liquor even after knowing that it could be toxic,” he said.

Bihar Assembly yesterday introduced and passed an amendment bill,2022  that seeks to make the liquor ban less stringent for first-time offenders in the state. The first-time offenders will get bail from the duty magistrate after depositing a fine. However, if the person fails to pay it, he or she is liable to face a one-month jail term.

From all these it can’t be cleared whether Nitish words and Bihar’s government decision to be less strict towards the first time offenders  will serve to encourage people or discourage people from drinking .