CADA continues with anti-liquor protest
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 02 2022:
Just a few days after making its stand clear that they will not hold any dialogue with the Government until the State furnishes a white paper on lifting prohibition, Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) continues to stage protests at different parts of the State along with women organisations, today.
On September 29, CADA had turned down an invite from the State Government to talk over things after prohibition was lifted.
Today, protests were staged at Khongman, Kodompokpi, Laimanai and Charangpat while a torch rally was taken out from Lamdeng to Lamshang Keithel in Imphal West last night at around 7 against the Cabinet decision taken on September 20 .
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At all the protest sites, demands were raised to roll back the resolution taken by the Cabinet to legalise liquor.
Notably, CADA has been urging the Government to produce a white paper and explain the merits and demerits of lifting prohibition to the people.
The organisation had declined the invitation sent by the Government for talks on lifting prohibition.
Laimanai Mamang Leikai Meira Paibi Lup and CADA, Kakching registered their protest at Laimanai in Kakching district.
Speaking to media persons, one of the protesters said that the State has all the means to effectively implement anti liquor policy if committed and the reasons given for lifting prohibition were baseless.
Similar protest demonstrations were also staged at Charangpat in Thoubal district, Khongman Zone IV, V in Imphal East and Kodompokpi Mamang Leikai in Imphal West.
At Khongman, the protesters said that addictions and alcoholism not only harm the users but the entire society due to rise in domestic violence and premature deaths of many.
They also said that the Government should be aware of the lasting consequences lifting prohibition will bring on the society and refrain from legalising liquor.
On October 1, a torch rally was taken out from Lamdeng to Lamshang Keithel under the aegis of CADA and Lamdeng Apunba Meira Paibi Lup.
The protesters chanted slogans in unison to revoke the Cabinet decision taken to legalise liquor and save lives.