Patna, Aug 15: Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Saturday backed Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor’s development-focused politics, saying he supports an approach that prioritises development over mobilisation along caste and religious lines.
Speaking to reporters after hoisting the Tricolour at his party office here on Independence Day, Paswan said Kishor’s political approach was centred on development and deserved support from anyone seeking to take Bihar forward.
“I do support the type of politics Prashant ji does. He talks about development and does not invoke caste and religion,” Paswan said.
“I stand for anybody who promises to take Bihar and Biharis forward,” he added.
Paswan’s remarks came days after Kishor’s electoral debut saw him defeat the BJP in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll, a constituency traditionally considered a BJP stronghold.
The Union minister, however, said the coming years would be challenging for both Kishor and the NDA government in Bihar, as both would have to live up to people’s expectations.
“The coming years shall be challenging for him as well as the double engine government in the state, as both ought to live up to expectations,” Paswan said.
Paswan is the sole BJP ally in Bihar to have publicly expressed appreciation for Kishor following his electoral debut.
The LJP (Ram Vilas) chief also took aim at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav over his participation in political activities, particularly against the backdrop of student protests in the state.
“He should first understand that the Constitution bestows on him some responsibility,” Paswan said, adding that an opposition leader had the responsibility of keeping the government on its toes.
“He cannot just shoot and scoot,” he said.
Paswan seeks review of Bihar liquor ban
Paswan also called for a thorough review of Bihar’s decade-old prohibition law, while stopping short of advocating its repeal.
He said the policy had failed to completely curb the illegal sale, purchase and manufacture of liquor, including spurious liquor, and called for the loopholes in the law to be identified and plugged.
“The policy’s objective is not being fulfilled, and the law needs to be reviewed to make it more effective,” Paswan said.
“There is a need for a thorough review of the liquor ban law which has been in place for a decade,” he added.
Paswan said his party had supported the prohibition law when it was introduced in 2016, despite being in the Opposition at the time.
He also stressed the need for greater public awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol consumption.
“We must study the loopholes and find ways to plug these. Plus, I have been of the view that despite the law, there is not adequate public awareness of the ill effects of alcoholism. We need to work on that,” Paswan said.
His comments come amid a renewed political debate over Bihar’s prohibition policy following an NCAER study that reportedly described the policy as a failure. Union minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi had also recently raised concerns over its implementation and advocated enforcement along the lines of the Gujarat model.
The liquor sale and consumption ban was introduced in Bihar in April 2016 by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Paswan’s remarks on Kishor, meanwhile, assume significance as Jan Suraaj seeks to expand its political footprint in Bihar following the Bankipur victory.
