Amid uproar over death of 39 people due to consumption of spurious liquor in Bihar's Chapra, CM Nitish Kumar said people should not consume alcohol and stay alert.
Hinting that no compensation would be given to the deceased's families, Kumar said if people drink, they will die too.
The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on Thursday came under attack from left, right and centre over the latest and one of the biggest hooch tragedies in the state, which has flown in the face of its stringent prohibition law.
The death toll, as per official data, has climbed to 39.
Civil surgeon and medical officer in charge Dr Sagar Dulal Sinha said deaths were being reported from those homes in affected villages where a family member falling ill after consuming intoxicants was not reported out of fear of landing on the wrong side of the law.
While the opposition BJP continued to create a ruckus inside the assembly for the second consecutive day over the Saran hooch tragedy, the CPI(ML) Liberation which supports the “Mahagathbandhan” government staged a demonstration outside before the commencement of proceedings, demanding a “review” of the draconian provisions of the prohibition law and monetary compensation to bereaved family members.
The chief minister, however, stood his ground maintaining that prohibition was “not my personal wish but a response to the cries of the women of the state” and expressed displeasure over criticisms from the opposition BJP which has raised the issue “even inside Parliament”.
(With PTI inputs)