New Delhi: The U.S administration has told India firmly to stop diversion of opium from its licensed poppy areas for sale through surreptitious channels in the world or face stoppage of all financial help from international monetary agencies.
India as a traditional grower of opium along with Turkey enjoys preference in medicinal supplies to US. And other needy countries but Delhi appears to be misusing the facility to dump the dangerous narcotic in the western and other countries.
It is understood that thousands of acres in Madhya Pradesh and U.P. are used to grow poppy and the opium thus produced is diverted abroad.
According to observers, India is also compelling the people in Punjab to consume larger amounts off liquors. Thousands of traditional village democratic primaries have been passing resolutions for years opposing the location of liquor vends in their respective areas but the Indian authorities are trying to suppress the mass movement by sending its armed police protect the liquor vends against Sikh militants attacks.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 28, 1992
