Cong, CSOs slam CM's stand on IMFL sale
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 25 2022: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused chief Minister N Biren on Friday of insulting the women of the state after the latter purportedly said that IMFL shops would be reopened in the poll-bound state.

"It is shocking that 48 hours before the campaign comes to a close, outgoing BJP CM announces that Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) shops will be opened.

This is an insult to the women of Manipur! We demand an immediate withdrawal of the statement by the CM..#BJPAgainstIma", Ramesh said in a tweet.

He tagged a news report that quoted Biren Singh saying that IMFL shops will be reopened in the north-eastern state if the BJP retains power.

Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhawan here Friday, Jairam said that the CM Biren-led BJP government is simply trying to kill the people of the state in the name of increasing the state's revenue.

This is an indication that the CM and his government is fully aware of its defeat in the impending elections, the senior Congress leader remarked and urged the CM to clarify on the matter and apologise to the people as well.

It may be noted that underground group Revolutionary People's Front had forced closure of all foreign liquor shops in Manipur in 1991.Jairam then questioned whether BJP national president JP Nadda is tolerant of alcohol even though he is intolerant of drugs.

Instead of focussing on other important issues such as raising the vaccination rate of the state from 48 percent, generating employment for youth, conditions of street vendors and the minimum support price of farmers, the government is focussed on trading alcohol.

He continued that in addition to inability of stopping trafficking of drugs into the state from Myanmar, the BJP government failed to understand the real consequences of such careless remarks which could lead to the end of Manipur as we know it.

AICC Manipur in-charge Bhakta Charan Das and MPCC VP Kh Devabrata also denounced the CM's remarks, adding that MPCC is against such move.

Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) and Khundrakpam Kendra Youth's Organisation (KHUKYO) also condemned CM Biren for his remark assuring to open sale of IMFL if the BJP retains power.

Addressing a press meet at its office premises on Friday, CADA secretary general Geetchandra Mangang recalled that CM Biren, during a poll campaign for BJP candidate of Khundrakpam assembly constituency Th Muhindro held at Sambei ground recently, made a remark: "Will legalise IMFL liquor in the state and let the people of the state consume IMFL liquor, which is less hazardous to health than the local brew if BJP comes into power".

Such remark is unbecoming of a public leader, he said.

After declaring Manipur as a dry state in 1991, several organisations, especially Meira Paibi Lups, have been carrying out community policing works to ban alcohol and related violence.

It is unfortunate for a CM to openly support alcohol consumption for some mere votes instead of appealing the public against it.

Most of the political parties also fail to mention the issue in their poll manifestoes, which is very unfortunate, he said while urging the public to take a stand against any candidate, who is directly or indirectly involved in drug cases.

At the same time, KHUKYO termed the CM's remark as a mockery to the decades-long movement of Meira Paibi and other social organisations against drugs and alcohol.

In a statement, KHUKYO questioned the sincerity of BJP to bring welfare in the state if they are going to legalise alcohol after coming to power.

It is true that outright ban of alcohol consumption is next to impossible but taking up strict measures agamst liquor could prevent several domestic crimes, save the youth and future of the society.

Earlier, the CM stated that his government initiated War on Drugs campaign after hearing stories of many widows, who have lost their husbands to alcohol and drugs.

However, his recent remark has made a mockery of his own statement, KHUKYO said, while informing that it will stand against drugs and alcohol.

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