Kohima, June 25 (MExN): Joining the contentious debate concerning the status of the NLTP Act, the Nagaland Law Students' Federation (NLSF) today termed the Act a “total failure” and urged for lifting Prohibition in the State.
It is a known fact to all the citizens as well as the Government of the day that the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989 is a “total failure with no remedy to set it right, thereby bleeding the State with hundreds of crores in revenue,” the NLSF stated in a statement.
Accordingly, it urged the Government of Nagaland to lift Prohibition in the State imposed through the Act. The State of Assam has been enjoying the fruits of Prohibition Act in Nagaland, it further argued.
The NLSF statement came against the backdrop of recent view shared by the MLA & Advisor of School Education & SCERT, KT Sukhalu on the issue. “It may not sound very good but I am thinking… that Prohibition should be lifted and the revenue that we get should be (invested) in education and healthcare,” he opined, addressing a consultative meeting of non-teaching officials from the Department of School Education (DoSE) on June 22 in Dimapur.
Reacting to the Advisor’s view, the NLSF lauded him for “speaking the truth” concerning the NLTP Act, though stressing its intention is clear of “not taking any sides in politics.”
The Federation further pointed out to the State Government the Prohibition Act is “drawing Nagaland backward” in many aspects instead of forwarding the State.
“It will be one great achievements of the present Government if NLTP Act is lifted,” it asserted.
The revenue generated through the lifting of the Prohibition could be “used in many developmental projects and it will also help the State towards generating its revenue,” it added.
Lifting of the Prohibition, the NLSF added, would enable the State to “flex its muscle at least in some areas of development without having to keep seeking and pleading for Central Governments blessings. The Federation further asserted that it is a well-known fact to all the citizen of Nagaland that Prohibition has “become a major evil of our society.”
As a government of a Democratic State, the Nagaland Government must “look into the reality” and should lift Prohibition for the” welfare of all at the earliest so that some more damages that is yet to come in the form of Prohibition may be averted,” it added.
