Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recently voiced against alcohol consumers, calling them “mahapaapi” (great sinners), and said that the state government cannot be held responsible for providing comfort to those who die following the consumption of liquor.
Nitish Kumar’s dig on alcohol consumers
On Wednesday the state Legislative Assembly passed the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Bill 2022 to adjust the control on punishment imposed on first-time “drinkers”.
“If they don’t take the ideals of the Father of the Nation, baapu (Mahatma Gandhi), then I don’t consider them as Indians,” Kumar said in the Assembly. He added, “Those who don’t listen to baapu are “mahapaapi and mahaayogya” (great sinners and inept).”
Amendment Bill
Kumar addressing the assembly said that in Bihar, as of 2018 according to research conducted by the government, 1 crore 74 lakh people quit drinking alcohol. He said that states don’t ban alcohol because of the income produced by it, but “if someone, who wastes money on alcohol, stops drinking, he will use that money to feed his house.”
शराब पीने वाले @NitishKumar के अनुसार हिंदुस्तानी नहीं और वो महापापी और महाअयोग्य और उनके लिए कोई सहानुभूति नहीं @ndtvindia @Anurag_Dwary pic.twitter.com/bfTB4YU28w
— manish (@manishndtv) March 31, 2022
After the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2022, gets the Governor’s support, first-time offenders will obtain bail from the duty magistrate after giving a fine. However, if the person fails to pay it, he or she is responsible to face a one-month jail term.
Nitish Kumar said people consume liquor despite learning that liquor consumption is dangerous, and therefore, 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.
