Patna: Union minister Chirag Paswan has called for a review of Bihar’s liquor prohibition policy, questioning where “leakages” in the law may be occurring and whether its original objectives are being met. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief said a periodic assessment was essential to ensure the effectiveness of the ban.
His remarks add to growing unease within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the policy introduced by chief minister Nitish Kumar. While opposition parties have long criticised the ban, recent weeks have seen members of the governing coalition publicly raise concerns about its implementation.
Speaking to reporters in Patna on Sunday, Chirag Paswan said every policy must undergo review to determine whether it is achieving its intended goals. He questioned whether liquor was entering the state through border areas or being sold in the black market, noting that allegations of home delivery have surfaced repeatedly. If the objectives behind prohibition are not being fulfilled, he argued, the government must identify loopholes and tighten enforcement.
The issue also featured prominently during the recently concluded Bihar assembly budget session. Legislators from both the opposition and the NDA pressed the government over claims that alcohol remains easily available despite the ban.
BJP MLA Vinay Bihari asserted that liquor could be accessed “everywhere” and demanded a review of the law. Madhav Anand, an MLA from the Rashtriya Lok Morcha led by Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha, also raised the matter in the assembly and sought a reassessment of the policy.
However, the state government has firmly rejected calls for reconsideration. Parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Choudhary told the assembly that total prohibition remains in force and will continue. He said there is currently no proposal under consideration to review the law, signalling that the Nitish Kumar administration is not in the mood to revisit one of its flagship policies.
