This Article is From Aug 16, 2016

Any Problem With Prohibition, Nitish Kumar Phoned Lalu To Ask

Any Problem With Prohibition, Nitish Kumar Phoned Lalu To Ask

Nitish Kumar called after a leader from Lalu Prasad's RJD said Bihar's prohibition be reconsidered.

Highlights

  • Leader from Lalu Prasad's party attacked prohibition laws
  • Nitish Kumar phoned Lalu to seek clarification
  • Fully support prohibition, Lalu assures chief minister
Patna: As political partners, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav frequently ping each other.

But last week on Friday, the Chief Minister was unusually formal,  Lalu, as he likes to be known, admitted. Mr Kumar sought clarification on whether harsh criticism of his ban on liquor, offered by a senior leader from Lalu's party, echoed Lalu's own concerns.

"Prohibition 's the best thing ever happened to the state," Lalu told NDTV today, adding , "everyone knows that there's a great impact being felt across the state but there are some people who, out of sheer heartburn, are trying to create this sort of misunderstanding."

Lalu was referring to Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who has said that Mr Kumar's policy on liquor goes too far with penalites. Recently, the already-tight rules were toughened to include punishment for all adult family members of a person found with alcohol at home.

The Chief Minister in a recent editorial for ndtv.com warned that he will not change his stand and remains committed to "fair implementation of the law."

"Those criticizing this may care to advise as to the person to be arrested if, in a house, bottles of liquor are recovered, and no member of the family owns up to it. They should also enlighten us who should be arrested in a case if the house is in the name of the wife," the Chief Minister wrote.

Lalu told NDTV that the phone call from the Chief Minister does not signal a trust problem but is "natural as Raghuvansh is a senior party leader."

Before Lalu and Mr Kumar decided to contest last year's election together, Mr Singh was a frequent critic of the Chief Minister, with his comments reportedly having the tacit approval of Lalu as both sides bargained on the terms of their collaboration.

Mr Kumar pledged prohibition in his campaign and has implemented a full ban on liquor.
.