Dimapur, Feb. 26 (EMN): Stating that the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, came into existence because of people’s movement, Dimapur Area Ao Baptist Pastors’ Fellowship (DAABPF) has urged the state government to respect the people’s mandate by strictly implementing the Act.
DAABPF stated this in an open letter to the government of Nagaland following news report over partial lifting of liquor prohibition as mulled purportedly by the government. It asserted that the fellowship stands firm against such imprudent contemplation by the government.
Recalling that tears, sweats, fasting and prayers of the churches paid the price to slay the monstrous flow of alcohol in Nagaland, it stated that churches of Nagaland would never leave their stand under any circumstances. It, therefore, stated that the legislature should not even ponder to revoke the Act with any other reason or reasons.
“There are voices of vague analyses from several quarters, giving their maxim as ‘liquor prohibition was a flawed act’. We are surprised to see even well-respected individuals voicing in favour of lifting up the prohibition. Arguments based on the consumption of spurious liquor, loss of revenues, illegal trades and so many other reasons are non-justifiable,” the fellowship president, Temsü Jamir, and the secretary, Marnungba Longkumer, stated.
Stating that the Baptist churches in particular were blamed for the failure to implement the NLTP Act, the fellowship, on the contrary, has termed as total failure of the government. It further stated that trying to abrogate an act with the reason of non-implementation or failure to implement was nonsensical and unjustifiable and added that leaders must stand firm and act what is right for the welfare of the people in general.