CADA insists on whitepaper before talk
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 06 2022:
Stating that the organisation is not opposing the government's liquor legalisation decision for the sake of opposing it but simply publishing a draft policy cannot convince the people, Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) has demanded the government to produce a whitepaper before any talk in this regard.
Addressing a press meet at its office here on Thursday, CADA secretary general Geetchandra Mangang said that the state government sent a copy of the Draft Manipur Liquor Regulation Policy along with a general public information document seeking feedback from CADA with regard to legalisation of liquor.
However, what CADA is demanding is a whitepaper on liquor legalisation and not just some draft policy.
The government should understand the difference between the two documents, he said.
Geetchandra further said that the draft policy does not contain any information that the public is looking for and as such CADA cannot take it as a white paper.
Liquor issue is not for CADA or Nupi Samaj or some Meira Paibi organisation but for the entire public.
The government needs to bring out the whitepaper to let the public know the real intention behind the policy and its impact both positive and negative so that the public could take an informed decision.
As for the draft policy, it is unfortunate to bring out such a hastily prepared bullet point list of only two pages without mentioning the underlying issue of liquor consumption, he said.
The secretary also expressed suspicion of a possible attempt of the government to assess public reaction behind releasing the draft policy, which could have been published officially in front of media.
Considering the way the government brought out the draft policy and the way it was prepared while ignoring the public demand, CADA will not dissect the draft policy before the whitepaper, he maintained.
Geetchandra further said that the government needs to prove that it has failed to enforce liquor prohibition in the background portion when it comes up with the whitepaper.
It should contain research data, detailed presentation behind the government's decision to legalise liquor, detailed regulations regarding health, social, economy and cultural aspects, which can convince the public.
Without such a whitepaper, the public will continue their protest against liquor legalisation, he asserted.
CADA has been organising protests in association with different clubs and Meira Paibi organisations demanding the government to withdraw the cabinet decision to legalise liquor, he said and also declared that CADA will support Nupi Samaj in its decision to intensify the stir after October 10 .