Kohima, July 11 (MExN): The Opposition Congress today expressed dismay at the immense loss of revenue in excise due to the prohibition in the state and urged the government not to be bullied by the church. Nagaland is currently a so-called “dry” state.During cut-motions, several Congress leaders expressed dismay at the huge loss of revenue as a result of the prohibition and moved for lifting the Act in Nagaland.
Congress MLA and former chief minister KL Chishi highlighted some of the negative fallouts of the liquor prohibition. Saying the Act, which was enforced in 1989, has proved to be a total failure, the legislator said it has rather resulted only in huge increase in the number of drug users among the younger generation. As a result, he said, people are forced to consume adulterated liquor while the number of bootleggers have also increased manifold. Chishi is convinced that Assam state has gained the maximum benefit from the imposition of prohibition in Nagaland while the latter has proved to be the loser.
All the liquor is coming from Khatkhati in Assam, Chishi reminded. He appealed to the state government to make the social organizations and the church to understand the ground realities especially about the resource crunch faced by the state as an impact of the prohibition. SO he demanded the Act to be lifted in the interest of the welfare of the state.
Insisting that the prohibition has become irrelevant, the Congress legislator insisted that revenue from excise can instead be used to create employment opportunities for the youth. He opined that the government can prohibit the sale of liquor but not drinking. ‘Everybody is drinking and drinks are available everywhere,’ he reminded.
Also participating in the discussion on the issue, MLA Tokheho opined drinking should be left to individual choices and that prohibition should be lifted as it has resulted in escalation in drug abuse. MLA Joshua also echoed similar opinions saying it has also resulted in increase in HIV/AIDS cases due to the use of intravenous injection among drug users besides draining the state’s resources.
Opposition Leader Chingwang Konyak also agreed that the then government was bullied by the church into acceding to its demands. Replying on behalf of the government, Excise Minister M.C Konyak admitted that prohibition has been a total failure resulting in huge loss in revenue but that it was not easy to lift the Act. He however said the state is earning 3 crore in revenue through VAT from liquor brought in by the army and paramilitary forces.
