At least three organisations today staged demonstration before the Odisha Assembly here today demanding prohibition in the state.
Activists of BJP Mahila Morcha, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party hit the streets demanding a ban on the sale and manufacture of liquor in the state. The protest was supported by activists of Odisha Nisha Nibaran Abhiyaan, Milita Mahasangha in Daringbadi and Sachetan Nagarik in Kandhamal.
The slogan shouting protesters holding placards demanded to implement Bihar and Orissa Excise Act-1956 to minimise liquor related deaths in the state.
"Nitish Kumar-government has decided to ban liquor in his state. Why it can't be possible in Odisha?" asked the activists.
The Odisha government must learn a lesson from the hooch tragedy in 2012 which claimed 43 lives in the state, they said.
Rejecting the demand of total prohibition in the state, Excise Minister Damodar Rout said, "The demand is totally unrealistic. We should try to reduce spread of liquor not a total ban.
