Liquor policy for elite classes: AMKIL
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 27 2022: Different organisations and Meira Paibi Lups continued protest against the state government's policy of legalising liquor sale and production while terming the policy as a money minting mechanism for elite classes such as MLAs, ministers and rich people of the state.

CADA, AMKIL, Nupi Samaj, Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nupi Lup and Khunnai Kanba Nupi Lup jointly organised a sit-in protest at Khurai Paonam Leirak Nandeibam Leikai on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, AMKIL president Lourembam Nganbi affirmed that the protest against liquor legalisation is a movement to protect the youth of the state from the menace of drugs and liquor.

Categorically stating that liquor consumption is one of the top causes for broken families and the situation is prevalent in the state too, she maintained that it also abets various crimes.

While reminding that Manipuri women started Nisha Bandh decades ago to salvage the situation when the society was overrun by liquor addiction, she said the movement forced the government to enact Alcohol Prohibition Act, prohibiting production and consumption of liquor with specific exception.

Though inability to enforce the prohibition is the main factor for widespread use of liquor, it is quixotic that the government has been citing failure to make the law effective as an excuse to legalise liquor, Nganbi said.

Pointing out that there is no scientific evidence that consuming quality liquor will not harm the liver, she reminded the government authorities that liquor consumption is the main cause for liver diseases.

The Meira Paibi organisations across the state strongly disagree with the policy.

They would have welcomed the government if it had come up with ways to effectively enforce prohibition instead of legalising it, she said.

The president further said that the policy for legalising liquor will become a money minting machine for the elite classes while the revenue, which the government is eyeing to collect from the people of the state, will be serve no purpose in lessening family disputes.

CADA and Nupi Samaj in association with EECHAL Lamsang Branch also organised a sit-in protest against liquor legalisation at Lamdeng Lamkhai on Sunday.

Similar protests were also held at Uripok Laikhurembi in association with Laikhurembi Panchayat Maning Apunba Nupi Lup; and at Khagempalli in association with NIMPAL Khagempalli Huidrom Leikai branch and Yumjao Lairembi Nupi Lup.

A similar protest was also staged by Nupi Samaj, Paona Bazar Women's Welfare Organisation and CADA in front of Paona Bazar USHA Cinema Hall on Sunday.

During these sit-ins, the protestors shouted slogans such as "No legalisation of liquor in Manipur", "Withdraw cabinet's decision immediately", and "Save the people of Manipur from liquor" .

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