Mizoram CM Defiantly Dismisses Opposition Claims on Liquor Shops: A Bold Stand in Guwahati News
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma firmly addressed allegations made by opposition legislators regarding the government’s intentions to open liquor shops in the dry state. During a recent budget session of the state legislative assembly, where a motion of thanks to the governor’s address was discussed, Lalduhoma clarified that the topic has never been deliberated by the government. Instead, he shared plans to regulate wine and beer through proposed amendments to the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition Act, 2019, a suggestion put forward by State Excise and Narcotics Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar.
Mizoram’s liquor policy has been a contentious political issue, driven by considerable pressure from the influential church. Though the state has been under some form of prohibition since it became a union territory in 1972, policies have shifted under different administrations. In 1984, the Congress government allowed wine shops, but this was reversed when the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995 was enacted, influenced significantly by the church and brought into effect in 1997. A brief period of relaxation occurred in 2015 when wine shops were permitted under The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition and Control) Act, 2014. However, this was subsequently replaced by the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition Act, 2019, under the Mizo National Front (MNF) government led by Chief Minister Zoramthanga.
The ongoing debate about the prohibition policy has been fueled further by remarks from the excise and narcotics minister, who expressed the view that prohibition might have caused more harm than good. Reports have highlighted fatalities attributed to illicit liquor production on the outskirts of Aizawl. This context underscores the complexities of balancing public safety and policy in a state with a storied history of alcohol regulation.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/mizoram-cm-denies-plans-to-open-liquor-shops-amid-oppn-allegations/articleshow/118460332.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-02-21 23:51:00
