Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav criticized the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government over the recent hooch tragedy, calling it “unfortunate” and expressing sorrow over the widespread fatalities. “The government is ineffective. The deaths caused by illicit liquor are tragic. There have been fatalities everywhere. It’s deeply saddening,” Yadav stated.
The hooch tragedy has resulted in the deaths of 33 individuals, with 28 reported in Siwan and 5 in Saran. This incident has ignited a political blame game, with opposition parties questioning the effectiveness of the liquor ban imposed by the Nitish Kumar government.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also criticized the NDA government, labeling the liquor ban as the “biggest corruption” of Kumar’s administration. He alleged that a “parallel economy” worth Rs 30,000 crore is operating under the guise of the Janata Dal (United) and its leaders. In a post on X, Yadav stated, “The Chief Minister who opened liquor shops at every corner of Bihar and caused thousands of deaths due to spurious liquor is now pretending to be a Mahatma. Nitish Kumar promoted alcohol consumption in Bihar during his first ten years in office and is now facilitating the sale of illegal liquor. Can Chief Minister Nitish Kumar deny these facts?”
Union Minister Chirag Paswan assured strict action against those responsible for the tragedy, emphasizing that no one would be spared. “It is deeply saddening that many people have lost their lives due to illicit liquor consumption. Investigations are ongoing, and several suspects have been arrested. This highlights the seriousness of our government. Those involved will face strict action, and no one will be exempt,” Paswan stated.
