Tejashwi Yadav slams Bihar liquor ban as 'complete failure', targets govt on paper leaks
Synopsis
Tejashwi Yadav's airport broadside wasn't a single-issue attack — it was a coordinated opposition salvo covering prohibition, paper leaks, the Siwan AK-47 incident, NEET, and BJP's job promises, all in one press conference. With an RJD march to Raj Bhavan set for 19 August, Bihar's ruling coalition faces a sharpening multi-front accountability push.
Key Takeaways
Tejashwi Yadav called Bihar's 10-year liquor ban a 'complete failure' at Patna Airport on 17 August .
He alleged a large bootlegging racket operates with the involvement of people in power, with branded liquor still being home-delivered.
Tejashwi described Bihar as the 'capital of paper leaks' , saying students have been repeatedly denied a fair recruitment process.
On the Siwan AK-47 incident, he alleged accountability was limited to the dismissal of one constable despite RJD's meeting with DGP Vinay Kumar .
The RJD has announced a march to Raj Bhavan, Patna, on 19 August to submit a memorandum to the Governor.
He also attacked BJP over its one crore jobs promise and criticised PM Modi's use of the term 'Urban Naxals' in his Independence Day address.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Working President and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday, 17 August launched a multi-front offensive against the Bihar state government, calling the decade-old liquor prohibition policy a 'complete failure' and accusing the ruling dispensation of enabling a large bootlegging racket. Yadav made the remarks at Patna Airport shortly after returning from Delhi.
Liquor Ban Under Fire
Tejashwi alleged that despite 10 years of prohibition in Bihar, liquor from multiple brands was still being delivered directly to people's homes, pointing to what he described as the involvement of those in power in sustaining the racket. When asked whether the ban should be reviewed, he deflected the question to Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, putting the onus on the ruling side to defend its own policy.
This comes amid long-standing criticism of Bihar's prohibition law, which has faced repeated legal and implementation challenges since its introduction. Notably, deaths from spurious liquor consumption have surfaced periodically across the state even as the ban remains in force.
Paper Leaks and Examination Integrity
Tejashwi trained his sharpest criticism on the state's examination system, alleging that Bihar was fast becoming the 'capital of paper leaks'. He claimed that recruitment examinations had been repeatedly compromised, denying students a fair selection process. He also questioned the state's education system and raised concerns over the alleged use of force against student protesters.
His remarks connect to a broader national debate around examination integrity, particularly following the NEET controversy. Tejashwi demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarify the Union government's response to the NEET paper leak and questioned whether the PM could guarantee leak-free NEET examinations going forward.
Siwan AK-47 Incident and Law and Order
Referring to a recent incident in Siwan involving an AK-47, Tejashwi questioned who had authorised the firing and alleged that accountability had been limited to the dismissal of a single constable. He said the RJD had previously met Bihar Director General of Police Vinay Kumar to seek accountability, but alleged that the concerned Superintendent of Police had neither been suspended nor faced any significant action.
In response, the RJD has announced a march to Raj Bhavan, Patna, on 19 August, where the party intends to meet the Governor and submit a formal memorandum covering all these grievances. Yadav appealed to citizens to participate in the march.
Attack on BJP and Modi's 'Urban Naxals' Remark
Tejashwi also took aim at Prime Minister Modi's use of the term 'Urban Naxals' during his Independence Day address at the Red Fort, calling the language inappropriate for a Prime Minister and drawing a comparison with protesting farmers and students. He demanded an apology to students and said such rhetoric criminalised legitimate dissent.
On employment, he alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had promised one crore jobs but had failed to deliver even a fraction of that figure, framing it as a pattern of unfulfilled electoral commitments.
What Comes Next
The RJD's Raj Bhavan march on 19 August is set to sharpen the political confrontation in Bihar ahead of the state's electoral cycle. With prohibition, paper leaks, law and order, and employment all on the agenda, the opposition appears to be building a consolidated anti-incumbency narrative targeting both the state government and the Centre.
Point of View
Paper leaks, the Siwan firing, NEET, and jobs into a single attack, the RJD is trying to build a consolidated anti-incumbency frame rather than fight on any one front where the government might respond effectively. The liquor ban critique is the boldest bet: prohibition was the Nitish Kumar government's flagship moral plank, and calling it a 'complete failure' while alleging complicity from within the power structure is a direct strike at the NDA's credibility on governance. What is missing from Tejashwi's critique, however, is any acknowledgment that the RJD itself governed Bihar for much of the period before prohibition and left a law-and-order record that rivals routinely cite. The Raj Bhavan march on 19 August will test whether this opposition energy translates into street mobilisation or remains a media moment.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Tejashwi Yadav say about Bihar's liquor ban?
Tejashwi Yadav called Bihar's 10-year liquor prohibition policy a 'complete failure', alleging that branded liquor was still being delivered to homes and that a large racket was operating with the involvement of people in power. He made the remarks at Patna Airport on 17 August after returning from Delhi.
What is the RJD's Raj Bhavan march on 19 August about?
The RJD has announced a march to Raj Bhavan in Patna on 19 August to meet the Governor and submit a memorandum covering multiple grievances — including the Siwan AK-47 incident, paper leaks, law and order, and employment. Tejashwi Yadav has appealed to citizens to participate.
What is the Siwan AK-47 incident that Tejashwi raised?
Tejashwi referred to a recent incident in Siwan, Bihar, involving an AK-47, questioning who had ordered the firing and alleging that the government's response was limited to dismissing one constable. He claimed that despite the RJD meeting Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar, the concerned Superintendent of Police faced no major action.
Why did Tejashwi criticise PM Modi's 'Urban Naxals' remark?
Tejashwi called Prime Minister Modi's use of the term 'Urban Naxals' in his Independence Day address at the Red Fort inappropriate for a Prime Minister, comparing it to language used against protesting farmers and students. He demanded an apology to students and said such rhetoric criminalised legitimate dissent.
What did Tejashwi say about BJP's job promises?
Tejashwi alleged that the BJP had promised one crore jobs but had failed to deliver even a fraction of that figure. He raised the issue alongside the NEET paper leak controversy, demanding that the Union government clarify its action plan and asking whether PM Modi could guarantee leak-free NEET exams in future.
