Despite the increasing sale of liquor reportedly by roof-top restaurants in the Imphal area, secretary general Nongchup Imphal Palem Ima Apunba Lup (NIMPAL), Soraisam Shanti Leima said the movement demanding to prohibit liquor in the state is heading towards success.
She was speaking to the media during a one-day sit-in-protest staged at community hall of Khagempalli Huidrom Leikai, Imphal West on Sunday which was jointly organised by NIMPAL, Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA), Nupi Samaj and Khagempalli Huidrom Leikai Yumjao Lairembi Nupi Lup.
Shanti said that after the state cabinet took the decision for partial lifting of prohibition on liquors in some areas of Manipur, free and open selling and consumption of liquor in the state has increased. However, with the continuous movement of NIMPAL, CADA and Nupi Samaj in support of local bodies, their movement against the government decision is heading towards success, she added.
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Responding to the media, she said selling liquor in newly opened roof top restaurants has been reportedly increasing despite the women folks and other organisations continuing movement against lifting of liquor prohibition from the state. She said the government should deploy security forces to those roof top restaurants and others to ban selling of liquor openly.
During the state cabinet decision, it was mentioned that the partial lifting of liquor prohibition will be started from 20 bedded restaurants and hotels, she said and questioned what is the meaning of lifting prohibition from 20-bedded restaurants and hotels. Are the people going to pray on the bed and what is the purpose for lifting the prohibition to such places, she further questioned.
Since the implementation of Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991 the government has been unable to control selling of liquors in the state. Despite the ban on liquor under the Act, liquor is available in almost every area of Manipur. If the government even cannot control under the Act, then what will be the scenario of the state if partial lifting of prohibition is implemented, said Shanti.
She further said after the state cabinet’s decision for partial lifting on liquor prohibition, liquor consumers have also increased.
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“The liquor consumers started consuming liquors openly and started arguing to the volunteers who conducted liquor drives to ask Biren as the government has already permitted for liquor consumption”, said Shanti.
Shanti said after the state cabinet’s decision, the impact of liquor has been increasing with even women and students starting to consume liquor openly. The government has been taking various measures to stop drugs and other intoxicating elements under War on Drugs, she said, adding that liquor prohibition should continue for the welfare of society and the government should intensify steps to ban liquor from the state.
Instead of earning the state's income by exporting liquor, the government should find out an alternative means, she added.
In the Imphal city and its surrounding, the number of restaurants including rooftop restaurants are increasing and it is reported that in most of the restaurants, liquor is sold openly with high prices and the prices are not fixed for respective restaurants for liquors.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Biren Singh had expressed earlier that the government will stand firm on partial lifting of liquor prohibition.
CADA also expressed earlier that the association will not accept any meeting regarding the issue until the government produces a white paper on liquor legalisation.
Similar protests were also staged at Paona Bazaar near Usha cinema hall; Uripok near Bir Tikendrajit Fly Overbridge; Khurai Paonam Leikai and Chingkhulong, Lamshang, Imphal West district.
