Patna (Bihar): RJD leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday raised serious questions over the enforcement of Bihar’s liquor ban, claiming that more than three crore litres of alcohol have been smuggled into the state. He held the state police accountable and criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his silence on the matter.
Speaking at a press conference, Yadav questioned how such a massive volume of liquor could pass through multiple districts and police checkpoints without detection, implying systemic failure and possible collusion.
“More than three crore litres of liquor have come to Bihar. If the police are not guilty, then who is smuggling in Bihar? Doesn’t this mean that the police are also involved in this? The opposition is there to show the mirror to the government in a democracy. Why is the CM silent? He is the head of the state; he should answer,” he said.
Yadav also criticized the government’s tendency to delegate responses to bureaucrats instead of the Chief Minister himself.
“Whenever a question is raised, an officer is sent to respond, and the answer is delivered through them. Why don’t they respond themselves? If alcohol is available in Patna, it has to pass through 5–6 districts and several police station jurisdictions along the border—yet it still doesn’t get caught,” he added.
On Friday, Yadav had also slammed the Bihar government for the deteriorating law and order situation, claiming that criminals were operating without fear.
“I have already spoken about the law and order in Bihar. There is a criminal disorder. Criminals are running amok. Incidents of crime are increasing continuously. Home Department comes under the CM. New laws are formed for criminals and to free them, the corrupt are granted promotions. There is not one day in Bihar when rounds of bullets are not fired, when murders, kidnappings and loot do not happen… There is anarchy here,” he said.
The remarks come amid increasing scrutiny of the state’s enforcement of its prohibition laws, which were implemented in 2016 under Nitish Kumar’s leadership. The opposition has frequently alleged that despite the ban, illicit liquor trade continues to thrive with alleged complicity of law enforcement agencies.