Ahead of 2025 assembly election in Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has vowed to remove toddy from the Bihar Excise Act, 2016, if his party forms the government in the state. Speaking on the issue, Yadav highlighted the economic and social hardships faced by the Pasi community, which has traditionally been engaged in toddy tapping.
"You all know that toddy is natural. Around 2% of the population lost their employment because of the ban on toddy. The Pasi community is suffering economically and socially, and when the police beat them, they suffer physically too," he said.
The Bihar government had imposed strict restrictions on toddy as part of its liquor prohibition policy, leading to job losses among communities dependent on its production and sale. Yadav's statement signals RJD’s stance on reintroducing toddy as a legal product if it returns to power.
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The remark has sparked fresh debate on Bihar’s liquor ban policy, with proponents arguing for employment restoration, while critics emphasize the need to maintain prohibition laws. The state government has yet to respond to Yadav’s statement.