Dimapur, February 25 (MExN): In an open letter to the Government of Nagaland, the Dimapur Area Ao Baptist Pastors Fellowship asserted that it is against revocation of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act of 1989.
Citing reports that the Nagaland Government is mulling partial lifting of liquor prohibition, the DAABPF said that the churches of Nagaland “will never leave their stand under any circumstances,” as “Tears, sweats, fasting and prayers of the churches paid the price to slay the monstrous flow of alcohol in Nagaland.” Therefore, the legislature should not even ponder to revoke the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act of 1989 with any other reason or reasons, it added.
The DAABPF noted that there are voices of vague analysis from several quarters, giving their maxim as ‘liquor prohibition was a flawed act.’ Arguments based on the consumption of spurious liquor, loss of revenues, illegal trades and so many other reasons are non-justifiable, it said while adding that the failure to implement the NLTP Act “is totally the failure of the government.”
“Trying to abrogate an act with the reason of non-implementation or failure to implement is nonsensical and unjustifiable. Can the government bear to revoke all the acts which the government fails to implement?” it posed.
While acknowledging that it cannot “can’t stop arguments and whatever they put forth in the platter may seem lucid arguments,” it maintained that leaders must stand firm and act on what is right for the welfare of the people in general.
It further urged the state government to reaffirm and implement the NLTP Act strictly. This act came into existence because of peoples’ movement; therefore, we further urge the Nagaland government to respect the people’s mandate and act wisely, it added.
