Imphal: The All Manipur Women's Social Reformation and Development Samaj (Nupi Samaj), a women's organisation, organised a rally here on Saturday in protest against the Manipur Liquor Prohibition (second amendment) bill, 2018, which proposes to give licence to liquor producers in a bid to generate revenue.

The bill was introduced in the Assembly on Friday, the first of the two-day monsoon session.

Nupi Samaj president Thokchom Ramani demanded that the House should not pass the bill. The bill, if approved, will be passed on Monday, the last day of the session.

"We are opposing the bill to save the youth of the state. If the bill is passed, we will join hands with other women organisations and agitate until it is withdrawn," Ramani said.

The rally started at Keishampat and culminated at the chief minister's office, where five representatives of Nupi Samaj apprised chief minister N. Biren Singh of their demand.

The Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA), another group which is against the bill, organised sit-ins here, including one at Khangempali Huidrom Leikai in Imphal West on Saturday.

Shanti Leima, a protester, said the government had declared Manipur a dry state with the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991, but the law has not been implemented properly. "We are against the state government's attempt to give licence to liquor producers. Instead of amending the liquor prohibition act, the Assembly should try to pass a bill to prohibit trafficking of heroin, WY and other drugs in the state," she said.

Manipur has been a dry state since 1991. However, in 2002, the ban was lifted in the five hill districts of the state through the Manipur Liquor Prohibition (Amendment) Bill, 2002.