NDA Allies Demand Review of Bihar's Liquor Policy: 'Implementation Flawed'

• NDA allies are urging Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to reassess the state's decade-old liquor prohibition policy.
• Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi stated the policy's implementation is deeply flawed, with small offenders arrested while large-scale smugglers escape.
• Manjhi alleged corruption in enforcement, leading to significant financial losses for the state and called for corrective steps.
• Bihar imposed total prohibition in 2016, leading to over 8.43 lakh cases and nearly 12.8 lakh arrests, but concerns about economic and social impact persist.
• The state's strained finances, with a fiscal deficit of 9.2% of GSDP and new welfare measures, have reignited debate on the policy's sustainability.