Sir

The Nitish Kumar government appears to be using liquor and the prohibition ‘law’ to settle political scores. It is really illogical.  Over one thousand ex-servicemen have been arrested under these draconian and illogical laws.

Look at the new decision of Nitish Government to  allow consumption and possession of liquor in cantonment areas and air force bases. This  is discriminatory, especially to ex-servicemen.

One newspaper quoted thus: “It’s discriminatory. I won’t call liquor consumption necessary. But it is a social requirement we picked up due to the nature of our jobs – posted in adverse nature conditions in areas where one feels lonely. Just because we have retired doesn’t mean we aren’t entitled to it,” retired wing commander Narendra Kumar said, pointing out that the Centre gives ex-servicemen access to the army canteens.

The state government, made Bihar dry on April 5. It shut off  the supply of liquor to army cantonments and air force stations by insisting that the army use holograms on liquor bottles used in the cantonment areas and made mandatory use of electronic locks and global positioning systems (GPS) for transportation of liquor.

Now, the government dropped its ridiculous demand and allowed transportation of liquor to cantonment and airbase areas as before. The liquor licences to these areas were renewed.

There are around one lakh ex-servicemen in Bihar. Over 1,000 defence personnel, including ex-servicemen, have been arrested for violating dry laws. In September, ex-servicemen held a protest and submitted a memorandum to the governor pleading that they should be exempt from the law as consumption of liquor had become a habit due to the nature of their job. They pointed out that Gujarat, with dry laws for over 50 years, allows ex-servicemen to lift their liquor quota from army canteens and consume it at home. But the state government insisted that liquor sold at army canteens be consumed then and there.

How strange!

Sincerely

Bru Lova

  letters, Prohibition