Nitish slams Oppn on toddy issue, pleads to educate Pasis

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar slammed Opposition parties for targeting him for imposing prohibition on sale and consumption of toddy too.

The move came just a day after Patna High Court granted an interim relief to liquor manufacturers in Bihar.

Speaking on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti here on Thursday, Nitish said: “I have been criticised by the Opposition for imposing ban on sale and consumption of toddy. But tell me, are these toddy tappers, mostly from Pasi community (Dalits), only born to climb trees and fetch toddy for you? Should we not create an environment for them (Pasis) where they could study, educate themselves and excel in other fields, like others?”

The audience, comprising mostly Dalits, cheered Nitish’s assertion at the function held at SK Memorial Hall, where the chief minister reiterated how generation after generation had suffered due to consumption of alcohol. “By strictly enforcing prohibition in the state, Bihar will set example for others to follow,” he said. Nitish’s reiteration came a day after Patna High Court granted an interim relief to liquor manufacturers in Bihar and asked the state government not to use any coercive action against them for keeping stock of liquor, which were already sold to the government agency Bihar State Beverages Corporation Limited (BSBCL).

Posting the matter for further hearing on April 19, the division bench of the HC, comprising Justice NP Singh and Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, passed the interim order.