Bihar CM Nitish Kumar bats for prohibition of liquor

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Thursday favoured nationwide prohibition saying there could be no greater way of paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary in 2019 than implementing liquor ban.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Thursday favoured nationwide prohibition saying there could be no greater way of paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary in 2019 than implementing liquor ban.

Participating at a memorial event for the former DMK chief, who died on August 7, he said implementation of prohibition was Bihar’s tribute to Gandhi on completion of 100 years of the Champaran Satyagraha.

Sharing his experience in implementing prohibition since 2016, Kumar said: “It is heartening to see a deep-seated social transformation taking place in Bihar.”

Prohibition has resulted in healthy citizens, economic betterment of families, and reduction in domestic violence. “It has led to a more empowered and healthy society, the results of which are visible in the development of Bihar.”

Kumar said Karunanidhi favoured a “complete ban on liquor,” and recalled that the DMK had promised implementation of prohibition in its manifesto for the 2016 assembly polls.

Referring to the liquor ban in Bihar, Karunanidhi had announced that if the DMK came back to power, the party would take all steps to implement prohibition for social betterment.

As a successor to the great leader, it is the responsibility of M K Stalin to fulfil the wish of Karunanidhi when the party was returned to power, he said.

Paying tributes to Karunanidhi, Kumar hailed the late leader for his political statesmanship and formation of coalition governments at the Centre.

He said Karunanidhi played an influential role in implementing the Mandal Commission report on reservation for backward classes. Kumar lauded Karunanidhi for initiating several welfare measures during his stint as Chief Minister.

Karunanidhi took an active part in formulating a Common Minimum Programme for the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

As chief minister, Karunanidhi took effective steps for employment generation, infrastructure development, river linking projects in the state and rural electrification since the 1970s.

The DMK patriarch ensured equal property rights to women, 30 per cent reservation for women in government jobs and 33 per cent reservation in panchayati raj institutions, he said.

Karunanidhi was active in politics for almost eight decades and he was DMK president for 50 years, he said, adding that he started off as PWD minister in 1967.

The late leader piloted widow remarriage and fought against religious hypocrisy, he said.

Karunanidhi’s ideals and work will continue to inspire generations of political and social workers besides leaders, Kumar said.

The DMK will grow with the blessings of the late leader and able leadership of Stalin, he said.

Newsletter

Prime Minister Modi inaugurates Atal Tunnel - longest tunnel above 10000 ft

Ladakh: The Prime Minister today inaugurated the Atal Tunnel and took the inaugural drive through in the 9km long tunnel...

Orissa High Court Order regarding migrant workers entry into Orissa put on hold by the Supreme Court

The Orissa High Court order to permit the entry of migrant workers only if they tested Negative for COVID-19 was put on...

Coronavirus Lockdown - First Flights To Bring Back Indians Stranded Abroad Land In Kerala

On Monday, the central government announced plans to begin a massive repatriation of its citizens stranded abroad, dubbe...

Reacting to Trump's retaliation threat India allows Hydroxychloroquine export

In a move after Trump's threat to retaliate if India fails to send medicines, India has lifted ban of export of ess...

All Domestic Passenger Flights Suspended from Midnight Tomorrow

The operations of all domestic schedule commercial airlines will stop operations from 23.59pm on March 24, a government...

Iran says it ‘unintentionally’ shot down Ukrainian plane, blames ‘human error’

Iran had denied for several days that a missile downed the aircraft. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, sa...