Anti-liquor legalisation protest continues
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 19 2023:
Denouncing the government's decision of legalising production and sale of liquor in Manipur, Coalition Against Drugs & Alcohol (CADA) in association with All Manipur Women Social Reformation & Development Samaj (Nupi Samaj) and Tumukhong Apunba Meira Paibi Lup joint -ly staged a sit-in protest at Tumukhong Bazar in Imphal East District on Sunday.
During the sit-in, the speakers commented that the government has failed to effectively implement the liquor prohibition laws, but is now pushing for sale of liquor through licensed outlets as a solution to the liquor problem and also as a means of earning revenue for the state.
Thus, the speakers strongly denounced the cabinet's decision and urged for its withdrawal at the earliest.
The protestors also shouted slogans and held placards inscribed with slogans like "How will legalisation solve the liquor issue when prohibition failed?", "Are all items which cannot be banned to be legalised?", "No to sale and brewing of liquor", "Is legalised liquor safe for consumption? Will it prevent liquor-induced crimes?", "Is revenue from legalisation more important than human life?", "Is legalisation justified in face of War on Drugs mission?", "Isn't alcohol abuse similar to drug abuse?", "No legalisation of liquor in Manipur", "Withdraw cabinet's decision", "Save the people of Manipur from liquor"; etc., during the protest, a release by CADA Information & Publicity secretary L Brojen Angomcha informed.