Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement prohibition in all BJP-ruled states like in his home state Gujarat. (PTI photo)
Riding on the popularity of liquor ban in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today demanded that prohibition be imposed in Uttar Pradesh, where Assembly polls are due next year.
On his first visit to Lucknow after donning the mantle of JD(U) president, Mr Kumar also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement prohibition in all BJP-ruled states like in his home state Gujarat.
"Don't worry Akhileshji (the UP Chief Minister)...ensure total prohibition. When liquor was banned in Bihar, people had problems for a few days. But, subsequently there was no problem," Mr Kumar said addressing a farmers' conclave.
He urged his UP counterpart to ensure liquor is not available within a distance of five km from UP-Bihar border to discourage people from his state to consume alcohol.
"I have written to the UP chief minister in this regard," he said, adding he was awaiting a reply to his letter.
The Bihar chief m,inister expressed hope that the liquor ban in his state would be replicated in other states with equal success if implemented.
He said country liquor as well as Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) have been totally banned in Bihar and to ensure its success, existing laws amended.
Commenting on Mr Kumar's anti-liquor campaign, BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said, "It appears more of a case to divert attention from his failure on law and order front in Bihar."
During his day-long stay, Mr Kumar also visited Ambedkar Mahasabha, apparently to send out a message to Dalits, who constitute a sizeable vote bank in UP, where JD(U) is likely to filed candidates in Assembly polls scheduled next year.