New Delhi: The BJP has demanded a law in Bihar that ensures monetary compensation to the family of those who die drinking spurious liquor in the prohibition state.
It has also accused the Nitish Kumar government of hiding the actual death tolls in such incidents, the latest being in Saran’s Chhapra earlier this week, which has so far killed 60 people.
Critiquing the Bihar government’s implementation of the liquor-ban policy, Leader of Opposition Vijay Sinha said Friday: “The government is giving protection to criminals. ‘Daru (liquor), balu (sand mining), and bhrashtachar (corruption)’ have become the agenda of the government today. We’ve requested the Governor to intervene and if necessary dismiss this government.”
Asking for a compensation law, Sinha added: “We’ve told the Governor that thousands of people have died due to spurious liquor consumption, murder and kidnapping. Death figures are being hidden and the voice of the Opposition is being suppressed.”
Hundreds came down with severe reactions Tuesday after drinking alcohol from plastic pouches in Chhapra.
Vijay Gupta, a nurse at the local Sadar Hospital, had told ThePrint: “Most people have stomach complaints after drinking alcohol. Many lost their eyesight and their bodies were trembling.”
The government has so far suspended two people, including Ritesh Mishra, a station house officer (SHO) in Mashrak, the worst-affected village. A special investigation team has also been formed to investigate the matter.
Multiple hooch tragedies have taken place in Bihar after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar banned liquor in 2016. The government’s liquor ban has often raised accusations of a drain on the exchequer and increased smuggling.
BJP’s Sushil Kumar Modi said in the Assembly this week that more than 1,000 people have died and over six lakh people arrested in similar tragedies since the prohibition began.
Nitish Kumar has not exactly been amenable to criticism over the hooch tragedy — particularly to the question of compensation.
Under pressure the other day, he called BJP MLAs “sharaabis” or drunkards when they attacked him over the recent deaths.
He told the media in Patna: “Last time, when people died due to spurious liquor, someone said they should be compensated. If someone consumes spurious liquor, they’ll die – an example is before us. This should be condoled, those places should be visited and people should be explained about the fallout of their action.”
While the BJP has publicly supported the prohibition, it has regularly criticised Kumar on the poor implementation of the ban.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the deaths, and has asked the chief secretary for a detailed report “on the status of the FIR, the treatment of victims and compensation – if any – granted to the aggrieved families”.
Also read: If you drink, you will die: Nitish Kumar repeats appeal after Chhapra hooch tragedy