Manipur in drugs map during BJP rule: MPCC
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 05 2023: Chief minister N Biren Singh repeatedly talks about 'War on Drugs' campaign but it is very embarrassing that Manipur has figured in the contraband drugs map of the world since the coming of BJP government, stated Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) senior spokesperson Hareshwar Goshwami.

Addressing media persons at Congress Bhawan, here, on Thursday, Hareshwar said that Manipur indeed has been a transit route for contraband drugs manufactured in the Golden Triangle since the past few decades but now becomes a drug manufacturing land and accordingly figured in the contraband drugs map of the world during the BJP government.

As a New Year gift of BJP government to the people, senior journalist Hemantakumar Ningomba was arrested from his house by police merely for his remark related to the drug issue.

However, there is no report of taking action against a high-profile woman who danced in a poppy held and uploaded photos on social media recently, Hareshwar Goshwami said.

Terming arrest of journalist Hemantakumar for his remark relating to the drug issue in a proverbial manner as very unfortunate, Hareshwar said that Hemantakumar is a senior journalist who will come to police station when called anytime but he was treated like a criminal and arrested from his house.

The unjust attitude of BJP government indeed was a gift to the people of the state for the New Year, he stated sarcastically.

Union home minister Amit Shah has arrived in Imphal on Thursday evening and he will be staying in the state overnight and attend some programmes on Friday.

However, it is surprising that the visiting Central minister will be attending a programme about distribution of appointment letters to newly recruited government employees including IRB.

Another programme being planned for Amit Shah's visit is felicitation of village chiefs and chairmen who had stopped poppy cultivation, which indeed will be the first in the history of India.

In some countries particularly in Arab nations, accused in drug related cases are either awarded death sentence or sent to jail for life.

However, it is surprising that village chiefs and chairmen who had stopped criminal acts like poppy plantation are to be felicitated in a function to be attended by a Central minister, he said, adding that according red carpet welcome to village chiefs and chairmen contradicts chief minister N Biren's commitment made in the past to award severe punishment to poppy growers.

There is no doubt that state police are working hard under 'War on Drugs' and able to seize drugs worth more than Rs 1229 crore in the year 2022 alone.

However, there has been report about seizure of huge contraband drugs in Assam and Gujarat originating from Manipur and this shows loophole in the ongoing mission against contraband drugs.

On one side, government talks about 'War on Drugs' while on the other side government is planning to legalise liquor, Hareshwar Goshwami pointed out and questioned sincerity of BJP government on its 'War on Drugs' campaign.

According to Hareshwar, BJP government talks a lot but works very little and the same is with the ILP implementation as there is no specific permit for labourers coming from outside and this law cannot regulate outsiders particularly labourers.

Another issue which BJP government is still adamant from taking up prompt action is the international boundary dispute, he said while accusing the BJP government of not taking up any step to resolve the dispute despite clearly mentioning the same in the party's election manifesto.

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