Motihari Tragedy: Tej Pratap Yadav Attacks Nitish Kumar Over Liquor Ban​

(MENAFN- IANS) Patna, April 8 (IANS) In a sharp political attack, JJD National President Tej Pratap Yadav has criticised the liquor prohibition policy in Bihar, claiming that the ban has completely failed despite being in force for nearly a decade.​

His remarks come in the backdrop of the recent spurious liquor tragedy in Motihari, where 11 deaths have raised serious concerns over the effectiveness of prohibition enforcement.​

Tej Pratap alleged that alcohol continues to be openly sold across the state.​

“There was a lot of rhetoric around prohibition, but the reality is that liquor is available at every intersection, in every street and neighbourhood. People are drinking everywhere-so where exactly is the ban?” he said.​

He further claimed that the widespread availability of illicit liquor has rendered the policy ineffective on the ground.​

Targeting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tej Pratap suggested that the failure of prohibition is one of the reasons behind his political shift to Delhi.​

“The liquor ban has failed-that is why Nitish Kumar is resigning and heading to Delhi,” he remarked.​

Referring to recent hooch tragedies, Tej Pratap alleged that spurious liquor is being manufactured and sold clandestinely across Bihar.​

“Toxic liquor is being buried underground in pots, and even the police are unable to detect it. People are consuming it and dying,” he said.​

When questioned about his earlier support for prohibition, Tej Pratap dismissed it as a thing of the past.​

“That was earlier. Today, the reality is different-liquor is easily available everywhere,” he said.​

The remarks are likely to intensify the ongoing political discourse around Bihar's prohibition policy, especially as enforcement challenges and recent tragedies continue to draw public scrutiny.​

The hooch tragedy began in East Champaran district in the evening of April 1 when villagers consumed spurious liquor. Their health deterioration started on April 2, and they were admitted to different hospitals.​

So far, 11 individuals have lost their lives, and over 15 people are battling for their lives in hospitals. Six victims have permanently lost their eyesight in this hooch tragedy.

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