Sharda to table 'War on Drugs' report at Jaipur meet
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 17 2022:
BJP Manipur Pradesh is all set to present a report on 'War on Drugs' campaign of chief minister N Biren during the BJP national executive meeting scheduled to take place at Rajasthan capital Jaipur on May 20 so as to discuss about the campaign seriously.
Informing this to media persons at Thambal Shanglen here on Tuesday, BJP Manipur Pradesh vice president Ch Chidananda said that the party will not only fully endorse development activities taken up by the N Biren-led government in its second term but also shoulder its responsibility.
According to Chidananda, the party could not remain a mere spectator when drug issue and stories related to it make the headlines in media almost every day.
From being regarded as a drug trafficking route state in early 1980s, Manipur is now a drug manufacturing state and this indeed is very alarming.
Apart from taking lives, drugs threaten to uproot the entire Manipuri society now, he said, adding that the party cannot ignore gravity of the situation when poppy plantation is being carried out by clearing jungles to produce opium.
He also said that poppy plantation is a crime punishable under Section 8 of ND & PS Act.
High HIV/AIDS prevalence and highest number of fake encounter cases in the country shamed Manipur in the past and drug issue is now poised to tarnish the state's image before the international fraternity again, Chidananda said, and stressed the need for uprooting drugs from Manipur.
From the year 2017 till date, the Biren government seized more than 120 kg of heroin and over 1,200 kg of opium.
The government also identified that poppy plantation is being carried out in more than 14,000 acres, he said and lauded various activities being taken up under chief minister N Biren Singh's 'War on Drugs' campaign.
Chidananda further said that BJP Manipur Pradesh president A Sharda Devi will present a report on 'War on Drugs' campaign at the BJP national executive meeting at Jaipur on May 20 which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home minister Amit Shah, BJP national president JP Nadda and other leaders of the party.
Chief minister N Biren Singh, A Sharda, BJP national executive member Th Biswajit and organisational secretary Abhay Giri will also attend the meeting, he added.
The press conference was also attended by BJP Manipur Pradesh vice president Jonathan Pao and other functionaries.