Former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Sunday slammed the Nitish Kumar government for banning sale of toddy and said the "useless" move would affect many people's livelihood.

Late on Saturday evening, excise department principal secretary K.K. Pathak had directed the excise commissioners of all districts to ban sale of toddy in their districts.

"It's a useless decision as certain communities earn their livelihood through this and the move is like kicking them in the stomach," said Manjhi. "Drinking fresh toddy is good for health and has medicinal value as well."

Toddy is a palm beverage drink mostly consumed by the Pasi community. There are around 5,000 Pasi families in the state and they are Mahadalits.

Asked about his claim that toddy has medicinal value, Manjhi said: "When I was young and fell sick, my father gave me toddy and asked me to consume it for 15 days. I recovered very fast and realised it had medicinal value."

"I am amazed that Lalu ji had made toddy tax free and now Nitish Kumar has banned its sale," Manjhi said. "If Nitish Kumar is really interested in prohibition, why is khaini (chewing tobacco) still not banned in the state? There are several people who consume khaini, which is really harmful. The chief minister is under pressure from the liquor mafia and soon this liquor policy would stand no where."

As per the new policy, one can consume toddy but can't sell it.

Bihar State Beverages Corporation Limited managing director Mithlesh Mishra said: "If you have a palm tree, you can prepare toddy and consume it. But selling toddy in the open market will be considered an offence and legal action will be taken."

After the ban on country liquor, it was suspected that many would shift towards consuming toddy.

"It is something like country liquor cannot be sold but one can have it in his/her personal capacity. Nitish Kumar's intention is not correct over the liquor policy and it will be gone soon," Manjhi said.

Diwakar Tejaswi, a renowned physician, backed Manjhi's claim and said: "Fresh toddy has nutritional value and is not harmful. However, consuming fermented toddy can lead to amoebic liver abscess."