Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Bihar Prohibition has again questioned the liquor ban, saying the policy is hurting poor people instead of curbing the liquor trade. Speaking to the media, Jitan Ram Manjhi on Bihar Prohibition said that smuggled liquor is now being made in just two hours, using harmful chemicals like urea, making it extremely dangerous.
Manjhi explained that traditional liquor takes about eight days to prepare and uses safe ingredients. But the illegal liquor made today is toxic and deadly. He said mafias are producing it secretly and selling it to poor people, who are the ones dying from it.
He also criticised the government for arresting poor people who drink small amounts of liquor for relief or medicinal use. More than four lakh cases have been filed under the prohibition law, mostly against ordinary citizens, not smugglers. Manjhi alleged that big mafias continue to operate freely with the support of some officials.
Manjhi added that wealthy people buy expensive liquor and drink safely, while the poor suffer the consequences of toxic alcohol. He said the idea behind prohibition is good, but the implementation is weak and unfair.
