Women bodies caution to launch intense agitation against Manipur liquor legalisation decision

Imphal: Manipur women organisations have cautioned the state government to launch intense agitation demanding to withdraw the state government’s decision for liquor legalisation in the state.

“Intensified agitation of the entire Meira Paibi across the state will be launched if the government fails to let know the public whether the state Cabinet decision on liquor legalisation be withdrawn or not by October 10,” advisor of NUPI Samaj K. Indu said.

She was speaking to reporters at a one day sit-in demonstration staged at a community hall at Mayang Langjing, Imphal West on Monday.

The protest was jointly organised by NUPI Samaj and Mayang Langjing Semgat Sagatpa Nupi Lup.

The decision of government to lift prohibition on liquor is a hasty decision of government as it should be discussed with the public, the women leader said.

It is unfortunate that the Cabinet decision on lifting on prohibition of liquor has made the efforts made of the Imas (women folk) useless that had been taking since decades to ban intoxicants, she added.

Various forms of democratic agitations are continuing under the initiatives of Nupi Samaj. Instead of listening to the demand the government has been turning its deaf ear. Intensified form of agitations will be launched from the next day of the deadline, she said.

Women of Manipur will never accept the decision of state government on liquor legalisation. “it is better to sacrifice our life if the women are going to be mothers of a drunk society,” Indu said.

Chief minsiter N. Biren Singh had already expressed earlier that the Cabinet decision on lifting of prohibition of liquor from Manipur was not taken hastily but it was taken after discussing at various levels.

He had also expressed in various platforms that the issue was also discussed on the Assembly floor during the last government and the House also instructed to create a committee in order to find out the ground report on the quality of DIC liquors of Manipur.

Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) has been pressinng the state government to produce a white paper regarding the Cabinet decision on lifting the ban on liquor.

Following the state cabinet’s decision some people have started selling of liquors including DIC liquor and IMFL openly.

The state police have been hectic in seizing liquor and apprehending liquor marketers.