New Delhi: As part of its plan to use the issue of prohibition to spread its reach outside Bihar, JD(U) on Thursday welcomed into its fold social activist Swami Agnivesh, who pushed for nation-wide ban on liquor consumption.
Joining active politics after many years, Agnivesh heaped praise on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for enforcing prohibition and said he believed that Kumar should launch a nation-wide campaign on this plank.
“I think prohibition will help realise Jayaprakash Narayan’s dream of total revolution. Nitish Kumar has taken a brave step and has inspired people,” he said, claiming that it has given fillip to the demand of nation-wide ban on liquor consumption.
Agnivesh was a minister in Haryana government in 1970s before he quit politics. He was also a member of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement but had a fallout over allegation that he wanted the then UPA government to deal strongly with the campaign.
“Joining JD(U) is like coming back to my old family,” Agnivesh said.
Bihar JD(U) chief Bashistha Narain Singh said prohibition can be a national issue and his party has been receiving a lot of support from woman groups and others from several states.
He also rejected the charge of poor law and order situation in Bihar, claiming that crime rate has in fact gone own and alleged that some incidents were projected in a distorted way in the media.
Agnivesh also spoke against the Child Labour Law passed by Parliament on Tuesday and said he would launch a campaign against it.