Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today once again expressed his government's firm commitment to impose liquor ban from April 1 next year but did not spell clearly whether prohibition would only be on country made liquor or also include Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).
"There is no confusion in the mind of the government. Liquor ban will come in Bihar from April 1, 2016," Kumar told reporters.
The CM, however, refused to state clearly whether prohibition would be only on country-made liquor or also on english brand.
"Everything will be there in the new Liquor policy," he said refusing to go into details.
Kumar's comment was sought on media reports quoting officials of Excise department that prohibition could only be on domestic liquor that was hitting hard the poor section of the society and not expensive foreign brand.
The reports highlighted that doing away with a revenue of nearly Rs 4,000 crore annually from liquor would not be easy in support of argument that ban would only be on domestic liquor.
The CM said that Excise and Prohibition department was preparing a detailed policy which would come to him around the month of January next.
"Much before April 1, 2016 after seeing every aspect which includes agreement with liquor companies, a policy would be announced," he said.
"Our commitment to implement prohibition from April 1, 2016 is firm and it will be implemented in every condition," he said.
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Kumar said his main concern was poor people living in villages with limited income.
"The habit of drinking is so bad that it is ruining many families. Women are in great distress due to this," he said.
He said much before election, at a function of "Jeevika" on demand of women volunteers he had given a promise that if his government returned to power prohibition would be imposed. "I reiterated it for a second time while speaking at a function on Prohibition day on November 26," he said.
The CM refused to answer apprehensions expressed by people with some even calling his commitment as "first blunder" of his new government.
"Everything would be spelled clearly in the new liquor policy which will be a solid policy and we will be successful in implementing it," he added.
