Patna: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday hinted at amendments in the anti-liquor laws which have earlier been termed draconian. He, however, maintained that prohibition was here to stay.

"I had asked for suggestions and even spoken to political parties about prohibition laws. There are persons who support prohibition but have reservation against certain provisions in the law. I have talked to Supreme Court lawyer Gopal Subramanium. We will bring in amendments and prevent it being misused," he remarked on Tuesday at a meeting organised by the JDU's youth wing.

He, however, strongly defended prohibition.

"There is a small group of people who criticise prohibition. They say that it is the Dalits and backward castes who are victimised by law. Why do they not bring out the caste break-up in other crimes?" he asked, stressing that it was the poor and downtrodden who had benefited most due to prohibition.

"It is very easy for the rich to spend on liquor and even for medical treatment. But think of the poor who used to spend a large amount of their income on liquor," he said.

Nitish conceded that despite tough anti-liquor rules, there are people who still consume liquor in closed rooms, government officials and bootleggers who want to profit from the law.

"There is nothing new about it," he said, pointing out that he had created a IG (prohibition) post and the drive against liquor will be intensified.

The anti-liquor laws introduced on October 2, 2016, has been criticised by allies and the Opposition as being too harsh and of introducing a police estate in the name of prohibition.

The government itself has come out with figures of 1.27 lakh arrests.

The quantum of punishment includes 210 years in jail and property being confiscated.

It was widely believed that JDU lost votes in Jehanabad polls because police action against Dalits under the anti-liquor laws.