NEW DELHI: Political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has dared to tread an uncharted territory in Bihar politics in current occasions together with his promise of scrapping liquor ban within the state, inside an hour, if voted to energy by the folks in meeting elections due subsequent 12 months.
Curiously, liquor ban is taken into account to be one of many vital components behind the continued electoral success of Nitish Kumar, who’s now the longest serving chief minister of Bihar.Many analysts imagine liquor ban helped improve Nitish Kumar‘s recognition amongst ladies, espcecially within the rural areas. Little marvel, not one of the mainstream events have spoken overtly towards it, maybe for the concern of dropping ladies voters. There have been some particular person voices towards the regulation, however not one of the events has opposed it overtly.
Liquor ban was applied in Bihar in 2016 to cope with the issue of alcoholism and issues associated to it within the state. It was additionally Nitish Kumar’s election promise to the ladies of the state who suffered as a result of extreme ingesting of their male members and as such it helped consolidate ladies voters in favour of ruling JD(U).
Nevertheless, implementing the liquor prohibition regulation has been an enormous problem for the Nitish authorities. Regardless of the ban, Bihar has reported a number of official deaths brought on by consuming of illicit alcohol and likewise hooch tragedies. The conviction fee has additionally been very poor. Furthermore, the stringent provisions of the regulation has led to widespread resentment within the state amongst a big inhabitants, which maybe Prashant Kishor hopes to capitalise.
Prashant Kishor claims prohibition regulation is yearly inflicting losses to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore to Bihar. He plans to plug this loss after scrapping the regulation and use the cash to supply world-class schooling system to the youngsters and youth of the state.
“We are going to want greater than Rs 4 lakh crore to enhance schooling within the state. We are going to elevate the cash by scrapping the prohibition regulation which is yearly inflicting losses to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore. I reiterate that when Jan Suraaj involves energy, the ban on liquor might be scrapped inside one hour,” stated the 47-year-old chief through the launch of his Jan Suraaj Celebration.
“When the liquor ban might be eliminated, that cash will not go into the funds and won’t be used for the safety of leaders, nor will probably be used for roads, water and electrical energy. That might be used just for constructing a brand new schooling system in Bihar,” he added.
“Jan Suraaj’s prime precedence might be on high quality schooling for youngsters,” he stated and urged folks to consider their kids’s future. “What number of occasions have you ever voted for the schooling and employment of your kids? Training high quality and employment had been by no means prioritised in Bihar since you by no means voted for this stuff,” Kishor stated.
However the large query is – Will Prashant Kishor’s emphasis on enhancing schooling have takers in a state the place caste and faith have performed an enormous position in politics? Are folks in Bihar able to say sure to liquor? Will or not it’s a gamechanger for his Jan Suraaj Celebration? We have no idea the solutions to all these questions now. However what we do know is that Prashant Kishor’s “scrap liquor ban” agenda will certainly set off a much-needed debate on the effectiveness of the prohibition regulation.
The mainstream events have performed down Prashant Kishor’s entry into politics with the RJD calling Jan Suraaj Celebration a B-team of the BJP and the saffron celebration taking potshots at him and claiming at the very least two events get registered in Bihar earlier than polls each time. Nevertheless, it’s the folks of Bihar who would subsequent 12 months resolve the destiny of Jan Suraaj Celebration and its scrap liquor ban agenda.
