Nitish pitches for Delhi’s full statehood and prohibition

NEW DELHI: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday batted for full statehood for Delhi and prohibition in the city as his party Janata Dal (United) geared up for contesting the assembly polls here due early next year. Addressing workers of the JD(U), a BJP ally, Kumar also reiterated his demand for special status for Bihar, which the Modi government had earlier rejected.

“We have always been in favour of full statehood for Delhi. Like we want special status for Bihar, we have always wanted statehood for Delhi,”

Kumar said. He also demanded that prohibition be implemented in Delhi as his government had done so in Bihar.

“Prohibition is a very important thing and it should be implemented in the entire country. Why should it not be implemented in Delhi? Alcohol is such a bad thing that we banned it (sale and consumption) in 2016. We implemented prohibition on the request of women. There has been a decline in domestic fight and law and order has also improved,” he said. The JD(U)’S alliance with the BJP has remained confined to Bihar and it has been fighting polls on its own outside the state.

The party is eyeing migrant voters from Poorvanchal and Bihar to make an impact in the city where the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, BJP and the Congress are key contenders. If people from Bihar stop working even for a day, Delhi will come to a standstill, Kumar said.

“Delhi is the national capital and it belongs to the entire country. People from various other cities reside here. People from Bihar reside here in large numbers and they have a huge role to play here. Earlier, they were made fun of but now they say with pride that they are from Bihar,” he said.