DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 1 (MExN): The Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) has expressed displeasure with the decision of the Dimapur Civil Society Organisations under the aegis of Naga Council Dimapur on the issue of the NLTP Act.
“It is undeniable that, NLTP Act -1989 is 'a total failure' not only in Dimapur district but in other districts as well, but it is equally undeniable that, the Act has never been seriously implemented from its inception. No Act will be effective unless it is implemented with conscientious efforts,” a press release from the CBCC stated.
It observed that all government machineries as well as the CSOs have “miserably failed on this matter and the failure has been intentional thus far.” “The irony of NLTP Act is that, the authorities did nothing substantial to keep the Act effective and started blaming the Act itself for being ineffective. If the CSOs have the audacity to appeal for the lifting of the Act, they have the authority as well as the capacity to strengthen the Act,” the CBCC stated.
Further, it maintained that if the CSOs and government authorities claim to be ignorant about where the loopholes are in executing the NLTP Act, “they are inefficient to hold their positions because they are not only incapable but unreliable.”
Pointing out that “booze joints are a common sight in the so called dry state,” the CBCC noted that “bootleggers are acquaintances of the law keepers, mini mineral water shops with pigeon holes etc, all operate right under the nose of the controlling authorities.”
Further, the CBCC said it is an open secret that consignments are also transported in the cars and lorries of law keepers. “Now, there is war against drugs and calling on the lifting of Liquor Prohibition Act is ridiculous,” the CBCC stated.
It questioned the CSOs on the “difference between the two evils.” “As for the church, if we are to choose between two evils, we will choose none. Therefore, the NLTP Act must stay because war against drugs must go on,” it added. The CBCCC said that the primary mistake is intentionally not implementing the Act; then moving to lift the whole Act for not being effective.
It meanwhile recognized that the local churches as well as the associations have not done enough to be “moral and spiritual guardians of her members in many ways.” However, the church has limitations and has its own boundary when it comes to executing legal matters, it said.
“The church cannot usher in transformation to the mass when the State has no will to act or work against the church. The State Government is the guardian of law and order but if the Government is half-hearted or has no will at all to safeguard the morality of its citizens, then it is directly or indirectly inviting anarchy and social anomie,” the CBCC stated.
On the argument of revenue generation, the CBCC said that “capitalism has always impacted human life adversely.” “Prosperity craze has overshadowed human dignity in our land. Human beings are not raw materials for revenue generation. We must choose human dignity above economic development,” it stated
The CBCC further recognized that influx of spurious liquor is a genuine concern. “However, liquor does not come to our state on its own; it is brought by the people of the state who are not ordinary people,” it stated.
