The Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday that the central government at present has no proposal to impose liquor prohibition across the country.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir was replying to a supplementary by Janata Dal-United member Kaushelendra Kumar, who wanted to know whether the centre will emulate the steps taken by the Bihar government and bringing about liquor prohibition across the country.
The minister, however, agreed that ever since the prohibition was imposed in Bihar, the number of casualties due to consumption of hooch liquor has definitely declined.
"We have no proposal to impose countrywide prohibition. But this is essentially a state subject and so states have the liberty to impose prohibition laws according to their requirements. For instance, Gujarat state already has prohibition," Ahir said.
The minister assured that once various state governments decide to bring in prohibition laws, the central government will extend cooperation to them.
Among others, Biju Janata Dal member from Sambhalpur, Nagendra Kumar Pradhan demanded prohibition in the country and recalled that prior to country's independence even Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi had once said that his first priority would be liquor prohibition and then the liberation of the country.
"So we have the opinion of the Father of the nation in favour of the prohibition," Pradhan said.
BJP member Kirit Solanki also expressed concerned on the dying number of people across the country due to consumption of hooch liquor.
--IANS
nd/ss/ksk/vm
