Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Friday people were now going for food such as milk, rasgulla, gulab jamun and peda after shunning liquor.
He backed his claim by reeling out figures.
“Sale of peda has increased by 15.5%, gulab jamun by 15% and honey manufactured by state diary cooperative – Sudha by a whopping 380% in the past seven months since prohibition came into force in Bihar,” he said addressing “Chetna sabha” as part of his ‘Nishchay yatra’.
He had earlier asserted sale of “Rasgulla” has increased by 16.25% during this period while milk saw a hike of 11% since Bihar became a complete dry state.
Muzaffarpur was the third stoppage of Kumar’s ‘Nishchay yatra’ aimed at taking feedback from people on prohibition as well as on the “seven resolves” that have been adopted by the government as their “policy of governance” for next five years.
The “seven resolves” include civic amenities like drinking water, toilet, roads and electricity for every household.
Kumar invoked Swami Vivekananda to answer his critics on liquor ban. “Swami Vivekananda had said that while doing any big work, one would face ridicule, then protest and ultimately people would extend support,” he said.
“Some say I have gone mad while some others say I am intoxicated (for the sake of power),” he said.
The Bihar chief minister said there would be no compromise with the prohibition.
Kumar talked about smuggling of alcohol into the state after the ban.
“I had asked chief secretary and DGP to go into details of illegal trade of liquor into Bihar from Haryana and after hard work, the trade has been busted,” he said.
Kumar exhorted women in particular to be vigilant against those still consuming and trading in liquor.
“As soon as you (women) spot anybody consuming alcohol, all the women of the village get together and dump the person in a de-addiction centre,” he said.
Ministers Abdul Bari Siddiqui and Madan Mohan Jha, chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and state police chief P K Thakur were also present on the occasion.