Bihar: BJP-ruled states have accounted for most hooch deaths, says Tejashwi

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday launched a counterattack on the BJP claiming that states ruled by the saffron party had the worst track records in terms of spurious liquor deathsThe RJD leader gave a statement before the media outside the Assembly which is in session claiming that Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka stood at the top in terms of the number of hooch deaths while even Gujarat a dry state fared much worse than Bihar which is under the spotlight over the Saran hooch tragedy that has killed over 20 peopleI am reading out from a statement given on the floor of Parliament by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai who incidentally hails from Bihar on July 19 BJP leaders here may do well to wear this on their chests remarked Yadav who was visibly displeased over frequent disruptions of proceedings during the ongoing winter sessionAlso Read Bihar hooch tragedy BJP Lok Sabha members ask Centre to take action against Bihar govtThe MoS had made the statement in response to a query from MP Danish Ali who sought to know the number of deaths caused by the consumption of spurious liquor The minister had quoted NCRB data to submit that between 2016 and 2020 Madhya Pradesh accounted for the highest number of 1214 hooch deaths followed by Karnataka where the number was 909 Both states are ruled by the BJP he saidAnother BJPruled state Haryana stood at number four Even in Gujarat a dry state from where the Prime Minister also hails the number of hooch deaths during the period was 50 while for Bihar it was only 21 Yadav saidThe deputy CM said BJP MLAs have been demanding Chief Minister Nitish Kumars resignation over the Saran hooch tragedy Would they make similar demands with respect to CMs of states ruled by their own partyThe RJD leader also asserted that the BJP had no moral right to raise the issue of violation of prohibition in Bihar and recalled the alleged involvement of a brother of Ram Surat Rai then a minister in the cabinet in liquor trade which I had raised while I was in the oppositionThe young leader also sought to make light of the remark of his septuagenarian boss that jo piyega woh marega whoever drinks is doomed to die which has come under criticism from many quartersPolitical strategist turned activist Prashant Kishor had said at a press conference in Sheohar I challenge Nitish Kumar and his ministers to share their wisdom in any of the places where people have lost their lives because of hooch They will get a taste of the public angerYadav said What the CM is implying is that a wrong deed has unwarranted consequences It is also not proper to link hooch deaths with prohibition We must not lose sight of the fact that even in states where liquor is not banned hooch tragedies do take placeAsked about fresh demands for a review of the prohibition law in the wake of the spurt in hooch tragedies Yadav said Let all those who hold such a view raise the matter inside the House A legislative matter cannot be debated on the streetsThe fact is the BJP is wary of its prospects in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls It has little to offer so it is indulging in all sorts of drama added YadavThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever