Patna, Oct. 1: Chief minister Nitish Kumar is unlikely to face dissent in his Cabinet or from Grand Alliance components over the new Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, which is to be implemented from October 2.
A section of the RJD and Congress leaders had opposed the new prohibition Act much before it was passed in both Houses of the Legislature, but today they all want to go with the Cabinet's decision. In fact, those who were opposing the new Act had stopped criticising it after it was unanimously passed in both Houses. Be it the RJD or the Congress, none of their leaders want to oppose the new Act even though it has similar provisions as in the old one that Patna High Court quashed yesterday.
"We will support whatever decision the Cabinet takes vis-à-vis the new prohibition Act, "said art, culture and youth affairs minister Shiv Chandra Ram of the RJD.
It is apparent that not just the RJD but all constituents of the Grand Alliance will stand behind the Cabinet decision.
"Our leader has never opposed the Act," Shiv Chandra said when asked if there were any instructions from RJD chief Lalu Prasad for the Cabinet meeting, "He supports the Act for the betterment of society. I just want to say that we will go with the cabinet's decision. I can't say anything more on this."
There was a time when RJD leaders used to criticise the Act, terming it "draconian" and "anti-poor".
However at the time of passing the bill, the Grand Alliance, consisting of JDU, RJD and Congress, issued a whip to ensure the bill is passed. Later, RJD national vice president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said that had the JDU and RJD not issued whips to their legislators, the bill would have got defeated in the two Houses.
Even Congress legislative party leader in the Assembly, Sadanand Singh, had expressed his reservations against the bill. The Telegraph could not contact him for his comments, as he was in New Delhi.
RJD MLA Bhai Virendra, who had openly opposed the bill saying it was unfavourable for the downtrodden and would create a sense of fear, today said he was not in position to say anything on the issue. "I am outside Patna and have not even seen the Patna High Court judgment so I am unable to speak on the issue," Virendra said. "But I must say I always speak for the welfare of society and people. It is a fact I had openly opposed the bill, but at present I am not is position to speak on it, as I need to go through the details."
Congress MLA Shakeel Ahmed Khan had earlier said that a specialist should have been consulted and people taken in confidence before proposing the dry Act. But today he stood by the government.
"What I said earlier was my personal opinion, but today it is a unanimous decision and I have to stick with it," Ahmed said.
"Cabinet decisions have to be accepted by all, across the party. It is not anyone's personals decision, it is a collective one."
The JDU has decided to organise Prabhat Pheris (morning marches) in panchayats across the state towards implementing prohibition.
"I have asked JDU workers to organise morning marches as we are united behind the government in its decision to implement prohibition in Bihar," JDU state chief Bashishtha Narayan Singh said.
The Opposition BJP, expectedly, continued to slam the state government on the new stricter prohibition Act that is going to be implemented from October 2.
Senior BJP leader demanded that Nitish call an all-party meeting and a special Assembly session before implementing the new excise law.
