Nitish Kumar asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement total prohibition in all BJP-ruled states like in his home state Gujarat. (File Photo)
After imposing liquor ban in his state, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today advocated total prohibition in Uttar Pradesh, drawing instant flak from the ruling Samajwadi Party, which accused him of making "negative comments against the state" and thereby "strengthening communal forces".
During his day-long visit to Uttar Pradesh today, Mr Kumar demanded that prohibition be imposed in the state, which goes to polls early next year.
His visit today and other recent tours of the state, however, did not go down well with ruling Samajwadi Party leaders. Mr Kumar had visited Varanasi a few days back.
"The manner in which Nitish Kumar has been targetting Uttar Pradesh, coming here every now and then, his comments against the Samajwadi Party government will embolden communal forces against which the Uttar Pradesh government is fighting," Samajwadi Party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said.
He said Mr Kumar has joined the "league" of MIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who visit Uttar Pradesh frequently and criticise the state government and the ruling party, which is fighting "communal forces".
By making "frequent trips" and "misleading" the people here, Nitish Kumar is "strengthening communal forces", he said.
Mr Chaudhary said Mr Kumar spoke of prohibition but did not say a word on development.
"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 while addressing a farmers' conclave.
He urged his Uttar Pradesh counterpart to ensure liquor is not available within a distance of 5 km from the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border to discourage people from his state to consume alcohol.
"I have written to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister in this regard," he said, adding he was awaiting a reply to his letter.
Earlier, addressing a farmers' conference, Mr Kumar asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement total prohibition in all BJP-ruled states like in his home state Gujarat.
The Bihar Chief Minister expressed hope that the liquor ban in his state would be replicated in other states with equal success.
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 Uttar Pradesh, where JD(U) is likely to filed candidates in the Assembly polls scheduled next year.