Sit-in staged against liquor policy
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 01 2023:
Denouncing the government's decision to legalise alcohol in Manipur, Coalition Against Drugs & Alcohol (CADA) in association with All Manipur Women Social Reformation & Development Samaj (Nupi Samaj), Thoubal Ima and Wabagai Yangbi Mamang Leikai Meira Paibi jointly staged a sit-in protest at Wabagai Yangbi Mamang Leikai in Kakching district on Saturday.
Speaking on the sidelines, Thoubal Ima secretary organisation Sanasam Kham-bi pointed out that earlier it used to be only adult men who died from liver cirrhosis, but now many are suffering and even dying from liver cirrhosis regardless of young age or gender.
Most young people are addicted to drugs and as such, parents/guardians need to keep a close watch over their wards.
Amidst such a serious situation, the government's decision to legalise liquor because it is not able to prohibit liquor completely, is ridiculous.
This could later set a precedent for the government to legalise narcotic drugs because it was not able to ban it.
The government's actions are almost as if they are isolating the Meira Paibi for standing up for the children and the society, not to mention of portraying them in bad light by manipulating them into becoming vote-gathering mouthpieces during elections.
Thus, she strongly denounced the cabinet's decision and urged for withdrawal of the policy at the earliest, adding that it would only lead to further deterioration of the society.
The protestors also shouted and held placards inscribed with slogans like "How will legalisation solve the liquor issue when prohibition failed?", "Can precious human lives be exchanged with liquor?", "What is good and safe liquor", "Is good liquor truly safe for consumption? Will it prevent liquor-fuelled crimes?", "Ban liquor wholeheartedly", "Is revenue from legalisation more important than human life?", "Is legalisation justified in face of War on Drugs mission? "Isn't alcohol abuse similar to drug abuse", "No to legalisation of liquor in Manipur", "Withdraw cabinet's decision", and "Save the people of Manipur", a release by CADA Information & Publicity secretary L Brojen Angomcha informed.