Motihari, Nov. 10: Chief minister Nitish Kumar's focus during his Nishchay Yatra appears to be more on prohibition than his seven resolves.

In Motihari today he claimed there had been a substantial dip in crime in the state because of the liquor ban. A day ago in Bettiah he had claimed that sale of milk had increased by over 11 per cent ever since liquor ban was imposed.

Nitish, who faced sharp criticism from a section of the crowd in Bettiah for "forgetting promises made in earlier yatras", claimed his government had started work on all assurances made during Assembly polls last year.

The objective of the Nischaya Yatra he launched in Bettiah, West Champaran district, yesterday, he said, was to see how the state machinery was executing the work in the districts and to offer tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on the centenary year of the Satyagraha movement.

The resolve to reach power to every house in the state would take off from November 15, he said.

Nitish was addressing a gathering at the zilla school ground on the second day of his Nishaya Yatra.

He claimed Bihar was the first state in the country where school-goers motivated nearly 1.19 crore guardians to take a vow never to consume liquor. Elaborating on the impact of prohibition, Nitish said sale of sweets like rasgulla and mawa (dried whole milk) products like peda and gulabjamun had risen by 16-40 per cent and of milk by 11 per cent. Also, demand for confectionary products had increased since prohibition was enforced, he said.

Hitting out at the Centre, the chief minister said the Narendra Modi-led NDA government wanted to promote the sale of genetically modified seeds - which is bound to harm the ecological balance - in the country. He declared he would not allow entry of such seeds in Bihar.

When prohibition was first launched, many called it draconian, the chief minister said. "But, gradually prohibition brought social change in every sphere of life and society. It is a good sign that those who earlier ridiculed and opposed him have gradually joined the movement in favour of prohibition. The day is not far when every state would implement complete prohibition," Nitish said.

Earlier, the chief minister also visited Parsauni Kapoor village in Patahi block, which has become the first open defecation-free panchayat in the district.

Around 500 toilets were built there, Nitish said.

He also inaugurated a public grievance cell and Nal Jal Yojna at Areraj and visited Motihari collectorate where he held a review meeting with officials and heads of different departments.

Secretaries of various departments accompanied the chief minister during his yatra. Along with the chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and DGP PK Thakur, the minister for agriculture and revenue were also present on the occasion.