'Half of Nitish Kumar's Ministers, Lawmakers Drink,' Alleges BJP's Sushil Modi

Patna: Top BJP Bihar leader Sushil Kumar Modi has alleged that many ministers and lawmakers in the Nitish Kumar-led Grand Alliance are "habitual drinkers" and has questioned the government's commitment to enforcing prohibition in the state.

Mr Modi's remarks came after a Congress lawmaker was caught on camera, in a sting operation, purportedly offering to serve liquor to guests. Earlier this month, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar dumped a plan for a phased implementation of prohibition and announced that Bihar would now be completely dry.

"It is known to everybody that more than half of legislators and ministers in the ruling Grand Alliance are habitual boozers which puts a question mark on the Nitish Kumar government's commitment to fully enforce prohibition in Bihar," Mr Modi alleged.

He demanded stringent action against the Congress' lawmaker in the sting, Vinay Verma, pointing out that all lawmakers had taken oath in the state assembly against consuming liqour or offering it to anyone.  

Mr Verma has said he is a victim of "conspiracy." He claimed that he is a vegetarian who does not drink alcohol and denied serving any to guests either.

The Nitish Kumar-led Grand Alliance, which includes Lalu Yadav's RJD and the Congress, swept to a massive victory in assembly elections in Bihar five months ago. Women who turned up in large numbers to vote are said to have backed Nitish Kumar, whose key campaign promise to them was prohibition.

Mr Kumar says that women voters are delighted at the quick implementation and that the state has responded very positively to prohibition.

But Sushil Modi alleged today that the new policy has "not brought" desired results as "liqour is being sold illegally" in all parts of Bihar despite its production, marketing and consumption being made a punishable offence under the Bihar Excise Act.

Mr Modi said the BJP is firmly in favour of total prohibition.