Bihar liquor traders threaten agitation

As the JD( U)- led Grand Secular Alliance government completed its first month in office on Monday, liquor traders opposing the government’s decision to shut down all retail counters selling Indian- made foreign liquor ( IMFL) threatened to launch a massive state- wide agitation.

Liquor traders, raising doubts over the government’s intention, said on Monday, “First they spoke about a blanket ban, now they want to shut down only country liquor and start selling all foreign liquor brands themselves.”

As per the new excise policy, the state government intends to close 5,344 of 6,000 IMFL shops in Bihar and involve the Bihar State Beverages Corporation Limited ( BSBCL) in the direct sale of foreign liquor brands in the state. According to the state government’s

‘ The government is trying to get involved in direct business. What kind of policy is this?’ asked an IMFL shop owner

directive, BSBCL will open 656 counters in urban and semi- urban areas which will sell IMFL brands.

“There should be a complete ban on the sale of all kinds of liquor but the government is trying to get involved in direct business. What kind of policy is this?” asked an IMFL shop owner.

When told that the decision has been taken by the excise department to impose a blanket ban on all kind of liquor brands, including IMFL, in phases, they called it an “eyewash”. On Sunday, while speaking on the issue in Delhi, chief minister Nitish Kumar had said that the state government was taking all measures to save the employment of those people who worked in liquor retail shops. He had said that the Bihar State Milk Cooperative Federation has been asked to make arrangements to give milk parlours to save the employment of those who worked in liquor shops.

The angry liquor traders, however, refused to speak on the CM’s offer but they indicated that they would soon hold a meeting to decide when to begin their agitation.