No talk till 'white paper' furnished: CADA
Sit-in staged, govt asked to roll-back liquor policy
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 29 2022: Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) has categorically stated that there will be no talk on liquor legalisation until the government furnishes a 'white paper' and places the same in the public domain.

Addressing media persons at its Palace Gate office on Thursday, CADA general secretary Geetchandra Mangang said that CAF & PD minister L Susindro's claim about serving invitation to CSOs for holding talk on liquor legalisation was very unfortunate and baseless as CADA currently is not interested to hold talk with the government.

Nupi Samaj too was unaware of the invitation when enquired, he said.

Urging people not to believe the claim made by minister Susindro in a public function, Geetchandra said that the government had indeed served invitation to CADA sometimes back for holding talk on liquor legalisation but it declined the same.

Moreover, CADA has no intention of holding talk on liquor legalisation after the chief minister's disclosure that the government will not retract from the cabinet decision on liquor legalisation, he said While asserting that CADA too will not change its decision and continue with the ongoing movement against drugs and alcohol, Geetchandra reiterated that CADA will not hold talk with the government until the government produces a 'white paper' on liquor legalisation.

According to Geetchandra Mangang, the state cabinet only gave approval for liquor legalisation and there has been no gazette notification for the same.

However, a video clip went viral on social media about organising a liquor festival at Phayeng where different brands of liquor were sold openly as if legalisation of liquor has come into effect.

This indeed was very unfortunate and the government must be responsible for organising such event, he added.

Meanwhile, demanding revocation of the state government's decision to legalise production, sale and consumption of liquor in the state, Meira Paibi activists belonging to Nupi Samaj, Khunthokhanbi Nishaband, THAU Meira Paibi and THANIL staged a sitin-protest in front of THAU gate, Thangmeiband, here, on Thursday.

Khunthokhanbi Nishaband president Mayanglambam Ibeyaima, who spoke at the protest, pointed out liquor is the origin of almost all the social ills including domestic violence, chaos in family and uncertainty in society and there is nothing in liquor which could benefit the humans.

Questioning the government's repeated claims on reaping benefits from liquor legalisation, Ibeyaima said that the government must make the people aware about the benefit of liquor legalisation, if there is any.

Women (Meira Paibi) of the state have been launching movement against drugs and intoxicants since the past many decades.

However, the government dishonoured the movement and decided to legalise liquor and this indeed is suppression of the people's voice by the government, she said and termed the government's decision as unfortunate.

While urging for withdrawal of the decision to lift the liquor prohibition, Ibeyaima said that the government cannot legalise liquor merely due to the failure of implementing the prohibition Act.

She also suggested launch of joint campaign with the government for protecting the people from the harmful effect of liquor.

Several placards inscribed with slogans related to demanding revocation of cabinet decision on liquor legalisation were put up display at the protest venue.

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