By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, December 4, 2015 : Demand for total prohibition in Odisha is growing louder in the wake of Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar’s bold move to impose total ban on liquor sale in his state.

Taking cue from Bihar, a host of opposition parties including   Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party on Friday took out a rally here demanding total prohibition in the state.

The agitators, backed by political parties and various civil society organisations including Milita Odisha Nisha Nibarana Abhiyan, Milita Mahasangha of Daringbadi and Sachetana Nagarika of Kandhamal, demanded implementation of Orissa Prohibition Act, 1956 in the state.

“Liquor trade has shaken off the financial and social backbone of Odia society. The government earns about Rs 2500 crore in revenue from liquor trade, but it can be earned by various other means too. The government is risking lives of four crore Odias for Rs 2500 crore. If Bihar can afford to lose Rs 4000 crore, why can’t Odisha! The sole point is, the government doesn’t intend to do so,” commented Odisha Congress Spokesperson Sulochana Das.

Similarly, BJP Mahila Morcha President Simantini Jena was shouting slogans like : “Stop liquor sale”. Stop violence against women”. “Don’t spoil the youth”. “The government can’t run on liquor revenue”.

Stating that total prohibition simply impractical, excise and cooperation minister Damodar Rout said, “We should always aspire for total prohibition but that would be an impractical decision to make. It would lead to bootlegging and increased sales of hooch. Gujarat has enforced liquor ban but illicit trade continues. About 200 people died on a hooch related incident there.”

He further clarified, “The government, however, can take a decision like Nitish Kumar has done in Bihar. My personal opinion is, instead of attempting for prohibition, we should aim to tame the expansion of alcohol trade,” he added.

The minister had earlier made it clear that chief minister Naveen Patnaik could only to have a final call on total prohibition in the state.