Nitish Kumar government in a spot over hooch deaths

NEW DELHI: Death of four people due to alleged consumption of illicit liquor in Bihar’s Rohtas district on Friday has put the Nitish Kumar government in a tight spot, with the opposition claiming that the prohibition law is not implemented properly.

This was the second hooch tragedy in the state after the government banned sale and consumption of alcohol in April last year and the first one after BJP joined the government after Nitish Kumars scrapped Janata Dal (United)’s Grand Alliance with Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress.

Main opposition RJD has highlighted the incident as a case of “poor governance”.

Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the opposition in the assembly, alleged that the prohibition law appeared to be only “on paper”.

Shivanand Tewari, vice president of RJD, told ET, “The implementation of government’s ban order on liquor is regularly monitored at the top level. Yet, the government has failed to put a check on the availability of illicit liquor in state’s various parts.”

The incident has come at a time when Nitish Kumar has launched a special campaign against social evils.