Nitish Kumar: Those who drink alcohol are referred to as’mahapaapi,’ or ‘not Indians’
After the state Legislative Assembly passed the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Bill 2022 to reduce the punishment imposed on first-time “drinkers,” Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar railed against alcohol consumers, calling them “mahapaapi” (great sinners).
“I don’t consider them Indians if they don’t follow the ideals of the Father of the Nation, baapu (Mahatma Gandhi),” Kumar said in the Assembly. “Those who refuse to listen to Baapu are “mahapaapi and mahaayogya” (great sinners and inept),” he continued.
According to a government survey conducted in 2018, 1 crore 74 lakh people in Bihar had stopped drinking alcohol as of 2018. States do not prohibit alcohol because of the revenue it generates, he claims, but “if someone who wastes money on alcohol stops drinking, he will use that money to feed his family.” He also stated that anyone who consumes alcohol is responsible for their actions.
The bill, which passed the Assembly by voice vote, will now be sent to the governor for approval, after which first-time offenders will be granted bail by the duty magistrate after paying a fine. If the person does not pay it, he or she will be sentenced to a month in prison.
The Bihar government has been accused of “ineffective implementation” of the 2016 Act, which outlawed the sale of alcoholic beverages in the state, as well as hooch tragedies.
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