It breaks my heart to see my state Manipur, a land of strength, fall into the grip of drugs. The shifting of the Golden Triangle towards India has brought a dangerous transformation, especially for my state. Manipur, once celebrated for its natural beauty and resilience, has now become a hotspot for poppy cultivation, fuelling a cycle of addiction and trafficking that threatens the youth of our nation and the very fabric of society.

Recognising this early, the BJP-led government launched a determined “War on Drugs.” The large-scale destruction of poppy fields and prosecution of offenders gave people hope that the menace could be curbed. Since its launch, the campaign has shown tremendous results, creating widespread awareness and instilling fear among those involved.

However, after the 3rd May 2023 incident, cartels exploited the reduced enforcement of the War on Drugs, and poppy cultivation spread once again across different parts of the hills. Recent photographs from villages in the adjoining forest areas of Kangpokpi and Ukhrul districts like Challengbung, Chingphei, Sangkai and Yoleng reveal the alarming scale of these operations.

This grave situation demands urgent intervention. I urge all authorities to confront this menace with an iron hand, and I call upon the national media to conduct ground surveys and let the world see what is really happening in Manipur.

The problem must be uprooted before it consumes all of us. Manipur cannot be left to fight this battle alone. It needs urgent and collective action to prevent irreversible damage and to achieve Nasha Mukt Bharat. PMO India Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India Narendra Modi Amit Shah Narcotics Control Bureau, India See less

~ N. Biren Singh, Former CM, Manipur