Patna: A study by the economic think tank, National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), proposing the lifting of prohibition in Bihar to generate resources for financing development and citing its failure to curb crime against women has triggered hot debate. The BJP announced a “review” of the various studies regarding liquor ban while RJD stated that it doesn’t support the ban in the present form.BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna said the party keeps reviewing the liquor ban from time to time and would also examine studies emerging on the issue. “We have been reviewing the liquor ban time to time and will also examine various studies as to decide what we have to do,” Krishna said in a video statement issued on Wednesday.“We now have sufficient data and information to assess if the ban was effective. Reported crimes against women in Bihar have not declined following the introduction of prohibition. Instead, total reported crime against women increased over the post-2016 period,” the NCAER study said.Strongly favouring the liquor ban, Krishna said enforcing the total prohibition was the “collective decision” of the state cabinet and the masses also gave it assent through their verdicts in two general elections held after the liquor ban. “The two general elections too have endorsed the ban. As of now, there is total prohibition enforced in Bihar,” Krishna said. The Grand Alliance govt, headed by former CM Nitish Kumar, imposed a total ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol in Bihar in April 2016.RJD said the liquor ban was enforced in a hurry without conducting a survey. “Liquor ban was imposed during the Grand Alliance govt but it was enforced in a hurry. No survey was done before its implementation,” RJD spokesperson Bhai Virendra said on Wednesday, adding that the way it is being implemented is not achieving the result. He alleged that despite the ban, smuggling of liquor goes on due to alleged connivance of liquor smugglers with the police.He also suggested that Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi flagged his concern in the Cabinet meeting, rather than expressing his concern in public. Manjhi, who has raised concerns over the implementation of prohibition in Bihar, recently pointed to alleged loopholes in the existing system and urged the CM to “consider the Gujarat model”. “Due to flaws in the law’s implementation, moral lapses are increasing. I would urge CM Samrat Choudhary to consider implementing the Gujarat model of prohibition in Bihar,” Manjhi told reporters a couple of days back.
