Mumbai, Apr 22 (UNI) Janata Dal(United) national president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today advocated 'ban' on alcohol across India for the development of the country and said it would also reduce accidents on highways involving cars. Addressing a maiden rally of the party in city after forming the Maharashtra unit of party, Mr Kumar advocated that drinking of liquor and consumption of intoxicants should be banned all over the country for the development of the country as well as to change the mindset of the people. Citing an example of China, he said that following the ban imposed by the Chinese government on the sale and consumption of intoxicant drugs, China made rapid growth. "If you want to compete with China, we have to ban alcohol and drugs," he said. The Bihar Chief Minister further said when he banned alcohol in his home state, people decried his move, saying that it will affect the source of revenue to the government. But, there was no effect on revenue generation following the ban, he pointed out and said that it was almost equal. The Bihar government was getting revenue of Rs 5,000 crore before the ban but after the ban, there was rise in consumption of health products like milk, plastic materials and garments, which compensated the revenue. About farmers' suicides across the country, Mr Kumar alleged that the Central government was not able to handle the issue properly and claimed that there was not a single farmer suicide in Bihar, which is known as backward state in the country, last year. The Bihar government was providing suitable price to the farm produce, he said. More UNI ST SS RSA 2025