CADA opposes move to legalise liquor sale
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 02 2022:
Strongly opposing the statement of chief minister N Biren in the assembly on Monday that the government is considering legalisation of IMFL, Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) demanded that the chief minister should resign on moral ground considering that liquor is openly available in the state despite an Act prohibiting it, causing untimely death of many people and the trend of production of packaged liquor in the state.
CADA secretary Geetchandra Mangang told newspersons on Tuesday that people of the state will never accept the statement of the CM in the assembly on Monday that the state cabinet has held discussions on legalisation on sale of IMFL to ensure availability of quality liquor as it has become a common sight and many have died due to it.
It is big question that how the government will check the quality of liquor and on what basis, it has come to understand that by legalising liquor there will be no death due to alcoholism.
The state has continuously witnessed untoward incidents and rise in number of widows caused by alcohol consumption.
In such situation, it will never agree to government's decision to legalise IMFL, he emphasised.
Geetchandra also demanded that government should produce a white paper which undisputedly confirms government's claims that revenue of Rs 600-700 crore per year will be generated and it will benefit the people of the state, if liquor sale is legalised.
He also posed if export of liquor will generate jobs for unemployed youths of the state and reduce incidents that happen due to consumption of alcohol.
The CADA secretary continued that it is known to everyone that despite imposition of the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991, many rich people have opened bar parties at night.
Such happenings are knowingly ignored by the authorities.
The government must first consider the pro and cons before legalising liquor.
Instead of legalising IMFL, the government must strictly enforce the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991.Despite Manipur being a dry state, abundant availability of liquor proves that the government is not working properly.
In view of this, the on-going assembly must hold discussion on amending the Act to strengthen it to ensure ban on liquor, instead of talking about its legalisation, he mentioned.
Geetchandra further cautioned that the government must desist from forcefully doing what it wants, instead of consulting with 'nisha band' organisations and other CSOs on the issue, or else it will be inviting a disaster.