The Nupi Samaj on Wednesday strongly reacted against Chief Minister N Biren's statement on legalisation of liquor in Manipur in the House, and stressed that they will never accept legalisation of liquor in the state.
The Nupi Samaj was formed in 1971-72 with a particular goal to eradicate alcohol abuse from Manipur, considering the numbers of domestic violence cases and other crimes committed by alcohol abusers, said Nupi Samaj president Th Ramani while speaking to the media at its office in Lamphelpat, Imphal West.
"Many men have died due to alcohol consumption, leaving their children and women as widows and orphans," she said, raising concerns about the consequences if liquor is legalised. "Are no other means other than legalisation of liquor to boost the economy of Manipur?" she asked.
The efforts of the state government to legalise liquor is considered as a challenge to the Nupi Samaj and Imas of Manipur, she said.
The women sections of Manipur will be compelled to take up a strong movement if the government tries to legalise liquor, she said.
“The government should rather kill all the women and the elderly mothers before liquor is legalised. The only way to legalise it is over our dead bodies,” the president added.
Advisor of Nupi Samaj, Kh Indu said that allowing the local liquor producers and shops to openly sell alcohol by collecting taxes despite Manipur being a dry state is an act of violating the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act 1991 by the state government.
When the chief minister himself had mentioned about the negative effects of consuming alcohol, it is rather surprising and contradictory to hear that the government is working on legalising liquor, she said.
“Banning the selling of alcohol in the state is a simple task if the government decides to do so. It should be a part of the War on Drugs mission,” she added.
Moreover, the abusers have started openly consuming alcohol without respect for Meira Paibis and Imas since the chief minister announced about the process of legalising liquor, she added.
If liquor is legalised, the fate of Manipur in the future will be left in peril, she said. She further appealed to all the concerned to take up steps to strengthen the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act 1991.
