Bihar: Nitish Kumar Declines Compensation for Hooch Deaths, Reiterates ‘Jo Piyega, Vo Marega’
Nitish Kumar. Image Courtesy: PTI
Patna: The demand for compensation to the families of the deceased in the latest hooch tragedy in the Saran district of Bihar is growing with the death toll rising to more than 50 on Friday after 19 more people died in the last 24 hours.
However, chief minister (CM) Nitish Kumar ruled out any compensation on Friday, according to Hindustan Times, despite the repeated demands by his two ruling allies and the Opposition BJP.
More than 12 people are still battling for life in government hospitals and the toll is likely to rise. SD Singh, deputy superintendent, Chapra’s Sadar hospital, told Newsclick that 29 post-mortems have been conducted so far and 15 people are still undergoing treatment.
According to reports, after the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, ruling allies CPI(M) and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM too demanded compensation for the families of the dead on Friday. Opposition leader Vijay Kumar Sinha demanded compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families.
Kumar shot back in the Assembly saying no compensation would be given to people who died after consuming country-made liquor. “No compensation will be given to people who died after drinking ...We have been appealing that if you drink, you will die ... those who talk in favour of drinking will not bring any good to you...”, he said.
#WATCH | "No compensation will be given to people who died after drinking...We have been appealing- if you drink, you will die...those who talk in favour of drinking will not bring any good to you...", said CM Nitish Kumar in assembly earlier today.
(Source: Bihar Assembly) pic.twitter.com/zquukNtRIA
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2022
In more than seven years, one hooch tragedy after another has been reported in the state despite the ban on manufacturing, storage, transportation, sale and consumption of alcohol since April 2016. Despite the much-hyped use of drones, copters and motorboats by the Kumar-led government to curb the illegal manufacturing and smuggling of liquor, hundreds of deaths have been reported in the last three years.
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