The Congress on Thursday slammed the double engine government led by the BJP and JD(U) coalition over several fatalities in Bihar’s Siwan and Saran districts due to consumption of spurious liquor.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at NDA and said that the opportunistic double engine government is responsible for the deaths.
Kharge extended his condolences to the bereaved families of the victims after 36 people died due to spurious liquor in 16 villages of Siwan and Saran in the state. Kharge requested the government to ensure that the culprits are given the harshest punishment possible.
In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge shared the previous incidents in which people lost their lives after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Bihar and said this shows how unsuccessful the state government has been in stopping the illegal liquor business.
“Before this — April 2023: 26 people died due to consumption of spurious liquor in Motihari. December 2022: 71 people lost their lives in Chhapra and dozens lost their eyesight. March 2022: 12 people died in Banka. November 2021: 43 people died after consuming poisonous liquor in Gopalganj, Bettiah and Muzaffarpur,” Kharge said.
“In 2017, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had said that ‘Liquor will not be sold in Bihar as long as I am alive’. Liquor ban has been implemented. But why is the illegal trade of illicit liquor still going on?” he said.
“The opportunistic double (engine) government in Bihar is responsible for taking the lives of hundreds of people!” the Congress president said.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also hit out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and said, “So many people died but Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar did not even express condolences. Hundreds of Biharis die every day due to poisonous liquor and crime but this is a normal thing for the Chief Minister and his kitchen cabinet, who are pioneers of immoral and unprincipled politics.”
He said 27 people have been killed due to poisonous liquor under government protection. Yadav said the so-called liquor ban in Bihar has taken the eyesight of dozens of people, adding due to the nexus between ruling party leaders, police and mafia, liquor is available at every square and intersection.
“No matter how many people are killed, how can any senior officer be prosecuted? On the contrary, will they be rewarded? If despite the liquor ban, liquor is available at every square and corner, then is this not the failure of the Home Department and the Chief Minister?” the RJD leader said in a post in Hindi on X.
He wondered if the Chief Minister was sensible, capable and competent enough to take action and think about such incidents. “Who is responsible for these murders?” he asked.