Bihar Assembly Election: Nitish Kumar attacked after Chirag Paswan’s comment on alcohol smuggling
Patna:
Hours after LJP chief Chirag Paswan attacked Nitish Kumar over the ban in Bihar, stating “on behalf of the ban on alcoholic beverages, people are being labeled as smugglers,” the Chief Minister responded, claiming that “people involved in the illegal alcoholic beverage business” wanted to oust him from power.
Stating that he was only interested in serving the people of Bihar, Kumar alleged that the campaigns against his alcohol ban, which took effect in 2016, shortly after his election to a third term, were led by people “jealous” of his achievements. .
“People involved in the illegal liquor business want to persecute me, remove me from office. They are campaigning against alcohol prohibition to have the restrictions lifted,” Kumar told an election rally in Vaishali district.
“(but) … my job is to serve the people. I have no selfish interests. Now you have to think. These people, if given a chance again, will lead Bihar back to where it was 15 years ago.” he said, responding to claims that the ban had led to a criminal nexus between smugglers and police.
The prohibition of alcohol, an electoral promise made by Nitish Kumar in 2015, was demanded by women voters, historically a solid foundation for the Chief Minister. However, many say support is eroding under the impact of alcohol smuggling and unemployment due to the Covid shutdown.
In fact, many of Nitish Kumar’s own supporters admit that the Chief Minister is “living in denial” because the ban has failed in the state.
आज नीतीश कुमार ने वैशाली की अपनी सभा में ये कह डाला कि अवैध शराब के धंधे में लगे लोग उन्हें सता से हटाना चाहते हैं। इस बार बिहार में आप घूमेंगे तो हर लोग शिकायत करते हैं कि शराबबंदी विफल हैं और अपराधी -पुलिस करोडपति हो गये@ndtvindia@Suparna_Singh pic.twitter.com/gHAnOIEO7u
– manish (@manishndtv) October 24, 2020
Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) put a brake on the campaign plans of the ruling BJP-JDU alliance by announcing that it would contest the polls on its own, tried to make that point, tweeting that “the women of Bihar” were angry. because “their own were becoming smugglers.”
“In the name of banning alcoholic beverages, the people of Bihar are being labeled as smugglers. Bihar women, sisters and mothers, do not want theirs to become smugglers. The prime minister knows the state is seeing a Increase in alcohol smuggling … it seems that everyone has taken a vow of silence, “Paswan posted on Saturday morning.
The liquor ban is not the only avenue of attack for Paswan, whose criticism of Nitish Kumar has irritated and irritated the Chief Minister, especially since the LJP, although it has distanced itself from the JDU for state elections, remains a member of the NDA led by BJP in the center.
BJP leaders, including party chief JP Nadda, have criticized Paswan, but Nitish Kumar remains unhappy at the party’s notable reluctance to publicly criticize the LJP chief.
For weeks it has been speculated that the BJP is secretly backing Paswan as a counterweight to keeping Nitish Kumar in check after the results of the Bihar elections.
Bihar votes for a new assembly of 243 members on October 28, November 3 and 7. The results will be announced on November 10.
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