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News Topical,Digital Desk : Chirag Paswan News: Union Food Processing Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Monday said that toddy is a 'natural product' and should not be put in the category of alcohol. Alcohol is banned in Bihar. Paswan was reacting to the promise of Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, in which Yadav had said that if his party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) comes to power after the upcoming assembly elections, the ban on toddy will be lifted.
Toddy is a natural product- Chirag Paswan
Paswan told the media, 'I have said many times that as an ally of the National Democratic Alliance, my party is supporting the government in the state, but it is not a part of the governance here. I certainly believe that toddy is a natural product and should not be considered as alcohol.'
Toddy business is traditionally associated with the Paswan community
The business of toddy has traditionally been associated with the Paswan community in the state. Tejashwi Yadav, while addressing a convention of the Pasi community in Patna on Sunday, said that the liquor ban law has affected the community whose only means of livelihood was extracting toddy. Promising to lift the ban on toddy, Yadav said that the Pasi community has been doing this work for generations and they have no other skill or agricultural land to earn a livelihood.
Reacting to the statement of Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on keeping toddy out of the liquor ban law, Jitan Ram Manjhi clarified, 'Nitish Kumar has already exempted toddy under the liquor ban law. Liquor ban is not bad. We appreciate Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for reviewing the policy and allowing minors who consume alcohol to be released after paying the fine. However, those who are unable to pay the fine are put in jail.
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