MPP censures gazette notice on legalisation of poppy
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 28 2023: Reacting against the gazette notification of the government of India issued on September 13, 2023 wherein plantation of poppy was granted due legality, Manipur People's Party (MPP) has asserted that poppy legalization can be made applicable in other parts of the country but not in Manipur.

Addressing media persons in this regard at its office near Polo ground here on Thursday, MPP vice president Yengkokpam Priyokumar said that the government of India in its gazette notification dated September 13, 2023, had notified that plantation of poppy will be legalised and farmers licensed for the same will have the liberty to produce 5 kg of opium per acre of land.

He opined that the gazette notification means that the drugs produced from poppy since the year 2019 will be legalized which is not acceptable.

The gazette notification can be applicable in other parts of the country but not in Manipur, he maintained.

On the killing of the two students by armed Kuki militants, the MPP vice president said that the state government had earlier stated that the missing case of the two students had been handed over to the CBI.

However, taking over of the case by the CBI only after the photos of their bodies surfacing on social media is not acceptable.

While expressing concern over the case being taken up only after the viral photos surfaced after silence and inaction for the last three months, Priyokumar said motive behind the CBI keeping silent for such a long time is questionable.

He also condemned brutal force used by security personnel against students who were protesting against the murder of the two students.

While observing that the central forces do not consider Meitei community as citizens of the country, he emphasised that effective legal action be initiated against those central force personnel who use excessive force against the Meitei community.

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