DIMAPUR, July 3 � The Nagaland church has come out strongly against possible review of the Liquor Prohibition Act by the State Government, saying that it will not tolerate any move to either to do away with the Act or relax the use of liquor.
A statement issued by the Liquor Prohibition Committee of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) reminded that Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act (NLTP) had been passed in 1989 after �praying and struggling for more than 30 years�.
However, stating that the prohibition had not been fully successful because of a number of loopholes, the NBCC said it had thoroughly examined the Act and had put suggestions for the amendment to the Act to prevent its misuse. It pointed out that, accordingly, Nagaland Government had constituted an Amendment Committee three years back while stating that it is still �anxiously waiting for the amendment�.
The NBCC also observed with seriousness that during important occasions or festivals such as the government-sponsored Hornbill Festival and the Road Show, abundant flow of liquor is intentionally allowed which, it said, directly makes a mockery of the Act and undermines the so called tag of Nagaland as a �Christian State�.
The use of government VIP vehicles for transportation of liquor has become very rampant, it alleged.
While making known its awareness of a consultative meeting called by the government with various NGOs and civil societies, excluding the NBCC, the church body maintained that it would not be wise on its part to make any statement on the intention of the government. It, however, sought to make it clear that �NBCC will not tolerate any move to either to do away with the Act or relax the use of liquor legally�.
Stating that prohibition is grounded on the solid teaching of the Word of God and, therefore, �our stand can never be compromised�, the NBCC made it absolutely clear that in the event of any move to revoke the Act, �Christians in Nagaland are prepared to stand for prohibition through any democratic means based on moral and spiritual authority�.
Further maintaining that the Act had come following much prayer and sacrifices of thousands of Christians, the church also pointed out that the Naga society has been victimised due to liquor consumption. It felt that the Nagaland Government should not shy away from its responsibility of saving the people from the evils of alcoholism while making known its expectation that the rulers of the State must do all possible to enforce the �Total Ban� on the flow of liquor so that morality and spirituality go hand in hand.
Moreover, the NBCC said it would also like to �knock at the conscience� of the State Government towards many other important issues confronting the State; issues such as the ongoing process of reconciliation and peace process with the Government of India, the rampant corruption at every level of governance, issues of unemployment, youth problems and many others ailing the Naga society. Despite giving attention to all these, it questioned whether it is justified and relevant for the Nagaland Government to contemplate on the issue of alcohol at this juncture.
The church body strongly urged the State Government to honour its own legislation which was a result of a commitment to NBCC �borne out of the struggle and prayer of thousands of people�.
