- The successive political parties were largely driven by parochial considerations and to consolidate assiduously built vote banks would never let go of an opportunity to score a brownie point or two whenever the need arises. Of course, the political class is meant to be on the lookout to further strengthen its sway over the electorate. And the Indian political equation is based on the labyrinthine caste conundrum with several reservations and quotas dotting the landscape. As it is, the Indian electorate is familiar with different castes characterized as classes viz. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Most Backward Classes, Other Backward Classes, Backward Classes, and some such things. It’s not easy to comprehend for someone not initiated here.
PC: The Hindu
- The political class is always on the lookout to sway the most important component of the electorate i.e. women voters by coming out with announcements that could potentially influence them. One of the most often bandied-about policy announcements by the political class is the prohibition policy that would evoke great traction among women voters. However, the country is witness to how the policy is conveniently circumvented and/or giving rise to illegal liquor manufacturing including the spurious kinds. We know how the CM of Bihar Nitish Kumar went ahead with the prohibition policy and continues with the same despite facing several instances of spurious liquor incidents claiming the lives and livelihood of citizens.
- Notably, no major party has dared to call out Nitish’s prohibition policy till now. Thus, Prashant Kishor’s recent critique makes for an interesting read. As if on cue, pundits are debating whether Prashant Kishor’s claim that his party will lift the ban on alcohol in Bihar within an hour of being elected will be a political game changer. There is little debate that the state’s prohibition policy has failed – as any such ban invariably will. If anything, the Bihar ban triggered unintended consequences. For one, it created a sprawling empire of illicit alcohol that flows smoothly throughout the state, in cahoots with police-neta nexuses. It was to happen since Nitish Kumar imposed and enforced the universal ban on all types of alcohol, including country liquor, at once.
PC: The Hindu
- Result? First, it crashed the state’s already meagre treasury. Neighbouring Bengal and Jharkhand increased their excise revenue consequently. Second, Bihar overnight criminalized its own people who would consume alcohol. Bans on alcohol do not impact consumption. Like water finds its way, those who seek to drink will find a way. Third, as any such ban is wont to do, with the activity driven underground, illegal factories flourished – a new mafia came up. Hooch tragedies shot up. Fourth, given that it was mostly marginalized communities engaged in the manufacture and sale of country liquor, their livelihoods went poof. As police cracked down, more people were jailed, and courts raised concern over the rising caseloads. Let’s be practical and lift the liquor ban.
