Bihar Liquor Ban Implementation came under sharp criticism from Union Minister and HAM patron Jitan Ram Manjhi. He said the liquor ban is a good law, but Bihar Liquor Ban Implementation has failed on the ground. He added that he cannot understand whether the administration is angry with the government or the public. Poor people are being arrested and sent to jail in large numbers.
Manjhi said that Bihar has nearly six lakh liquor-related cases, and four lakh involve people who are not habitual drinkers. He shared these details during a media interaction in Gaya.
He explained that during Nitish Kumar’s third policy review, he requested that smugglers and big dealers should be targeted—not labourers who consume small amounts after work. Workers returning from duty may drink 50–100 grams to reduce fatigue, but they are still jailed. This, he said, is the reason nearly six lakh cases are pending.
Manjhi also claimed that mafias and smugglers move freely because some officials support them. He said that his parents used to make Mahua liquor, which was natural and took days to prepare. Now, because of prohibition, harmful liquor is being made secretly in just two hours.
