Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday asserted that hooch victims would neither get compensation nor sympathy, and slammed the BJP for holding protests and also fanning communal strife in the country.

Nitish’s comments came against the backdrop of six hooch deaths in Siwan and Begusarai districts in the aftermath of the steepest illegal-liquor-related toll in Bihar — 60 in Saran district.

Speaking in the Assembly after an MLA from Grand Alliance partner CPM, Satyendra Yadav, demanding help for the families of the Saran hooch victims, the chief minister said: “The deaths are proving that drinking liquor is very harmful. We should publicise that if you drink, you will die. There is no question of giving compensation if people die after consuming liquor. There should be no sympathy if someone dies after drinking hooch.”

“I am surprised if anybody says that we should help if somebody dies after consuming hooch. This means we should end the ban on liquor. Should we help those who drink? If people drink, and sometimes get bad liquor, they will die. If anybody among you (MLAs) thinks about it then tell me to do away with prohibition, or decide together and start encouraging people to drink,” Nitish added.

The chief minister pointed out that Lord Krishna, Islam and other religions and Mahatma Gandhi never approved of drinking.

Nitish, who left the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in August to form a new government with the Grand Alliance, slammed the Opposition BJP for protesting alleged patronage to the liquor mafia.

In an apparent reference to Gujarat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nitish said: “I have enforced prohibition, but liquor ban is in place in the state of the person who is ruling over the country. What is happening there? Bihar is the only state that is trying to implement prohibition strictly.”

“How the BJP is protesting. Why did it support the ban on liquor? We were not with the BJP in 2017, but the Prime Minister had praised prohibition during his visit. They are protesting to attract the support of some people,” Nitish added.

Asserting that the number of hooch deaths in Bihar was less in comparison to the time when liquor was not banned, Nitish pointed out that more people were dying in other states which did not have prohibition.

“Madhya Pradesh is at the top in hooch deaths. It is happening everywhere, even in Uttar Pradesh,” Nitish said.

The chief minister announced that he would again embark on a campaign in support of prohibition and tell people to stay away from those speaking in favour of liquor.

“The worst work is being done by these people (the BJP). They are engaged in creating strife between Hindus and Muslims. It is keeping someone (AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi) to abuse it so that the Muslim votes go to him. Is any development work happening in the country? Is there any discussion on it?” Nitish said.

Five people died in Siwan district on Friday after consuming hooch. The deceased includes a police chowkidar. A man lost his life at Teghra in Begusarai district after drinking liquor while another person is battling for his life.