Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• This may be the best alternative for the govt. At present, the Church and the mothers are not willing to lift prohibition, on the other hand the Govt just does not have the guts and the b*** to remove the prohibition act on their own, and on the other hand the bootleggers are making tons of money because Nagaland is a wet place in a dry state. There is alcohol flowing everywhere and no one to check it. At this rate Nagaland is heading for a catastrophe. In this kind of stalemate between the many stakeholders the best remedy is to go to the people and let the people decide what is best for them. So yes, a public referendum is the most democratic way to move forward on the prohibition issue.
• Prohibition needs to be lifted... 'a handful of Church leaders must not diktak our state policies, please don't mix religion with politics.'
• Yes..but will Govt be truthful?
• If a public referendum is made, I'm sure majority will be for lifting the prohibition act except for NBCC and NMA. So as to promote participative democracy, if the GON and NMA are at loggerheads at this issue, the best is to refer to what the Naga masses has to say. There the GON will get a direct answer on what the public really wants. Proclaiming Nagaland as a dry state with liquor flowing in all festivals, VIP meetings, Pan shops, restaurants right under the nose of the enforcement personnel is a mockery to the system itself.
• But where was the prohibition successful?
• Because government cant take alone this decision n take do as their wish. But in this respect public opinion influence a lot
• If the referendum is to ban sales of alcohol on Sundays and Holidays then I am with the referendum. Seriously, NBCC, how many souls were saved because of the ban on alcohol or rather did the attendance of church increase because of the ban? And NMA, how many people were able to give up alcohol after the ban was imposed? And those people that are against the lift of the ban of alcohol are those who stands to gain from black marketing and officials from bribery. Otherwise not a single rational person in Nagaland will be against the lifting the ban on alcohol because of all the negative resultants of this sham - 'dry state'
• Yes. Its simply democratic. It will also remove bootlegging, sale of spurious liquor preventing deaths from consuming them and generate legit govt revenue.
• Referendum, the most democratic mechanism for people to exercise their right.
• An opinion poll will be a guide at least. Otherwise, prohibition in our state is like a make-ups on a girls face. Only the outer layer is good looking, inside is the real bosti-manu.
• Prohibition of what..In Nagaland nobody likes to be ruled nor ordered. All we know is boss around without knowing that someone laughing at our backs.
• When did the Govt ever asked to give public opinion on anything? I think the present Govt is dictatorship.
• Public Referendum on Prohibition will be a great choice. I think people by now are have sufficient knowledge about the pros and cons of Prohibition. Bring it ON!!! its "NO" to Prohibition from me. somebody can even Proxy vote for me, no problem in this matter.
• Yes, the government must. You don’t have to be have the brain of Freud or Billy Graham to see that behind the prohibition lurks the tormented spirits of many people. Abolition of drink was interpreted by the prohibitionist as a personal victory over doubt and sin in their own lives.
• YESS!!! But will our top guns n top shots stoop low to take public opinion? will they listen to others. They have never been in this situation, so it wud be interesting to know the outcome.
• But prohibition or not, nagas will bull doze their way to freedom of boozing n what not.
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• No. A referendum is not needed. In fact it could prove counterproductive. Prohibition needs to be lifted. Period. It has never worked in history and it's not working in Nagaland. Pretending that it does is being the proverbial camel who buries its head in the sand.
• No. Since Nagaland is a Christian state, Consecration should be on implementation and not reversal. As it is Nagaland is already reached lowest ebb in every front, except festivals, we should never ever talk of lifting prohibition.
• No need of a referendum. Its clear what majority of the population will choose. Its time for The NBCC the most aggressive and vocal prohibition lobby to take a break. Mind your flocks, leave the running of the government to the politicians, whom you voted to power.
• waste of departmental mechanism i.e, personnel n money.
• No, Because our state is a Christian state.
• Referendum is not the best way to go about it. It will only polarize people because there are people who feel very strongly on both sides of the argument. Just imagine if Nagas were to become sharply divided over prohibition. Will it not be an embarrassment to all? I don’t agree with Prohibition, not only does it smack of judgmentalism and intolerance, but theologically it holds no water. The final judgment is not yours or mine, let it be God.
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• Prohibition should be lifted without any public referendum. NBCC should humbly admit it has made two grave mistakes in the past- promising 10,000 missionaries and the NLTPA. NBCC, you are not the law maker. Do not poke your nose and do your... bit in soul-searching. If you preach and teach them well your sheep will abstain from drinking alcohol. Supporting NLTPA only shows your inefficiency. God given freewill is also curbed and compromised. What's the point? Even if the public voice is heard, the Church body will cry sacrilege and the political will die down, just for the sake of staying in power.
• If the Church is the people and the people are the Church and the people choose to lift the prohibition through a public referendum, than it is the duty of the Church not to oppose it. Are the Naga churches listening?
• This trying to appease a section of society who want to be the moral police is not working and we know how it would end... they are the policy makers, just remove it...
• Nagas will atleast hide as if nothings happen....
• I don’t think the Nagaland Baptist Church Council is willing to listen to anyone on this matter. They have become blind and deaf on prohibition. Just take a look at Dimapur, there is alcohol flowing like no ones business. It’s a mockery. As of now, prohibition is having a very negative impact on our society. The NBCC should be honest on this matter. Pride will not solve the problem.
• Govt needs public backup 4 any decision regarding muduu ghors.
• Oh plis Govt cannot stoop so low asking 4 ppl opinion. Or Ministers will think they r par with the public.
• Rather than reducing this complex issue to a simplistic Yes or No question, an informed debate involving key stakeholders and all shades of opinion may have a greater salutary effect of educating us better and thereby, also, helping key players in taking an informed decision. There are economic, social, political and moral implications inherent in it. A dispassionate and rational analysis is a necessary, though not necessarily a sufficient, step.
• I assume that if such a referendum is ever held, the NBCC and the bootleggers will find themselves as a tag team. There are only two things to lose here, the pride of the NBCC and the illegal business of bootleggers.
• Here is my two bit on this very contentious issue: NBCC and the Church has taken its stand for whatever it is worth, in spite of the opposition. The Church cannot do less. Now let the Government take its stand for whatev...er it is worth: either give Prohibition a chance by enforcing it or remove it by act of Legislature, that is their job. Don't keep blaming the Church. A responsible government should not idly stand by and let its citizens fight its fight. Take a stand!
• It wont make any difference. Nagas will never learn to limit themselves.
• Policy makers need to do their own studies and not refer back to the church to endorse their policies... citizens see the reality of what is truly happening, but the problem is that policy makers are fine pretending they are being Christian and righteous, whereas if you visit their homes they have cellars filled up with everything under the sun. What I do feel is that the Church needs to stop promoting sessions for the ban. Instead educate people and support and counsel them when they are in need...Very few churches actually reach out to alcoholics, but are rather quick in ignoring them or condemning them... Prohibition the world over has failed... The government needs to do something about the rise of spurious alcohol across the border and have severe penalties set on bootleggers, if they are going to still continue the ban or just plain lift it. The first 2/3 years I can almost see a rise in alcohol usage by people, but eventually if government agencies as well as the church and other counselors such as AA's do what they are really supposed to do, we might just see a change in attitude.... When something is not working, people need to acknowledge it and that is the time, they will finally have come of age.
• tis far we have come without any improvement, better go. N rather find a new way how to "only decrease the alcoholism!" Have an open debate being ours a Christian State, should include every section of people's voice..after all its all bout our society only.
• What prohibition r we talking about? Everybody knows that Nagaland is a dry state on papers. All the best types of boozes are available in Dimapur. Whether or not the prohibition comes out, Nagas cannot get away with the BOOZES
• A direct popular vote on such a contentious issue is not the answer to the dilemma of Prohibition in our state. The fact remains that the church (ours being a Christian-majority state) exerts a great deal of influence on the government and its policies. It is a well-settled principle in a rule of law society that morality should guide the creation of laws for the benefit of the population at large. Here, however, we should be cautious on the kind of morality guiding legislation or laws thereof. Philosophically speaking, there are two kinds of morality that one needs to be concerned about viz., conventional morality and critical morality. While conventional morality reflects the moral views of the majority of the population (which at times may be rather skewed and outdated), critical morality denotes what in fact is right irrespective of the opinion held by the majority of society. While conventional morality would tell us that Prohibition has its due place, critical morality would tell us that Prohibition has failed miserably in its purpose and regulation must be tried instead. Our leaders should muster the political will to frame legislation accordingly, keeping in mind the changing times and circumstances (not forgetting much needed revenues for the government’s exchequer). Alas, our leaders are nevertheless very often compromised by the “powers that be” and a referendum would only provide an opportunity to politicians to politicise the issue even further.
• This may be the best alternative for the govt. At present, the Church and the mothers are not willing to lift prohibition, on the other hand the Govt just does not have the guts and the b*** to remove the prohibition act on their own, and on the other hand the bootleggers are making tons of money because Nagaland is a wet place in a dry state. There is alcohol flowing everywhere and no one to check it. At this rate Nagaland is heading for a catastrophe. In this kind of stalemate between the many stakeholders the best remedy is to go to the people and let the people decide what is best for them. So yes, a public referendum is the most democratic way to move forward on the prohibition issue.
• Prohibition needs to be lifted... 'a handful of Church leaders must not diktak our state policies, please don't mix religion with politics.'
• Yes..but will Govt be truthful?
• If a public referendum is made, I'm sure majority will be for lifting the prohibition act except for NBCC and NMA. So as to promote participative democracy, if the GON and NMA are at loggerheads at this issue, the best is to refer to what the Naga masses has to say. There the GON will get a direct answer on what the public really wants. Proclaiming Nagaland as a dry state with liquor flowing in all festivals, VIP meetings, Pan shops, restaurants right under the nose of the enforcement personnel is a mockery to the system itself.
• But where was the prohibition successful?
• Because government cant take alone this decision n take do as their wish. But in this respect public opinion influence a lot
• If the referendum is to ban sales of alcohol on Sundays and Holidays then I am with the referendum. Seriously, NBCC, how many souls were saved because of the ban on alcohol or rather did the attendance of church increase because of the ban? And NMA, how many people were able to give up alcohol after the ban was imposed? And those people that are against the lift of the ban of alcohol are those who stands to gain from black marketing and officials from bribery. Otherwise not a single rational person in Nagaland will be against the lifting the ban on alcohol because of all the negative resultants of this sham - 'dry state'
• Yes. Its simply democratic. It will also remove bootlegging, sale of spurious liquor preventing deaths from consuming them and generate legit govt revenue.
• Referendum, the most democratic mechanism for people to exercise their right.
• An opinion poll will be a guide at least. Otherwise, prohibition in our state is like a make-ups on a girls face. Only the outer layer is good looking, inside is the real bosti-manu.
• Prohibition of what..In Nagaland nobody likes to be ruled nor ordered. All we know is boss around without knowing that someone laughing at our backs.
• When did the Govt ever asked to give public opinion on anything? I think the present Govt is dictatorship.
• Public Referendum on Prohibition will be a great choice. I think people by now are have sufficient knowledge about the pros and cons of Prohibition. Bring it ON!!! its "NO" to Prohibition from me. somebody can even Proxy vote for me, no problem in this matter.
• Yes, the government must. You don’t have to be have the brain of Freud or Billy Graham to see that behind the prohibition lurks the tormented spirits of many people. Abolition of drink was interpreted by the prohibitionist as a personal victory over doubt and sin in their own lives.
• YESS!!! But will our top guns n top shots stoop low to take public opinion? will they listen to others. They have never been in this situation, so it wud be interesting to know the outcome.
• But prohibition or not, nagas will bull doze their way to freedom of boozing n what not.
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• No. A referendum is not needed. In fact it could prove counterproductive. Prohibition needs to be lifted. Period. It has never worked in history and it's not working in Nagaland. Pretending that it does is being the proverbial camel who buries its head in the sand.
• No. Since Nagaland is a Christian state, Consecration should be on implementation and not reversal. As it is Nagaland is already reached lowest ebb in every front, except festivals, we should never ever talk of lifting prohibition.
• No need of a referendum. Its clear what majority of the population will choose. Its time for The NBCC the most aggressive and vocal prohibition lobby to take a break. Mind your flocks, leave the running of the government to the politicians, whom you voted to power.
• waste of departmental mechanism i.e, personnel n money.
• No, Because our state is a Christian state.
• Referendum is not the best way to go about it. It will only polarize people because there are people who feel very strongly on both sides of the argument. Just imagine if Nagas were to become sharply divided over prohibition. Will it not be an embarrassment to all? I don’t agree with Prohibition, not only does it smack of judgmentalism and intolerance, but theologically it holds no water. The final judgment is not yours or mine, let it be God.
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• Prohibition should be lifted without any public referendum. NBCC should humbly admit it has made two grave mistakes in the past- promising 10,000 missionaries and the NLTPA. NBCC, you are not the law maker. Do not poke your nose and do your... bit in soul-searching. If you preach and teach them well your sheep will abstain from drinking alcohol. Supporting NLTPA only shows your inefficiency. God given freewill is also curbed and compromised. What's the point? Even if the public voice is heard, the Church body will cry sacrilege and the political will die down, just for the sake of staying in power.
• If the Church is the people and the people are the Church and the people choose to lift the prohibition through a public referendum, than it is the duty of the Church not to oppose it. Are the Naga churches listening?
• This trying to appease a section of society who want to be the moral police is not working and we know how it would end... they are the policy makers, just remove it...
• Nagas will atleast hide as if nothings happen....
• I don’t think the Nagaland Baptist Church Council is willing to listen to anyone on this matter. They have become blind and deaf on prohibition. Just take a look at Dimapur, there is alcohol flowing like no ones business. It’s a mockery. As of now, prohibition is having a very negative impact on our society. The NBCC should be honest on this matter. Pride will not solve the problem.
• Govt needs public backup 4 any decision regarding muduu ghors.
• Oh plis Govt cannot stoop so low asking 4 ppl opinion. Or Ministers will think they r par with the public.
• Rather than reducing this complex issue to a simplistic Yes or No question, an informed debate involving key stakeholders and all shades of opinion may have a greater salutary effect of educating us better and thereby, also, helping key players in taking an informed decision. There are economic, social, political and moral implications inherent in it. A dispassionate and rational analysis is a necessary, though not necessarily a sufficient, step.
• I assume that if such a referendum is ever held, the NBCC and the bootleggers will find themselves as a tag team. There are only two things to lose here, the pride of the NBCC and the illegal business of bootleggers.
• Here is my two bit on this very contentious issue: NBCC and the Church has taken its stand for whatever it is worth, in spite of the opposition. The Church cannot do less. Now let the Government take its stand for whatev...er it is worth: either give Prohibition a chance by enforcing it or remove it by act of Legislature, that is their job. Don't keep blaming the Church. A responsible government should not idly stand by and let its citizens fight its fight. Take a stand!
• It wont make any difference. Nagas will never learn to limit themselves.
• Policy makers need to do their own studies and not refer back to the church to endorse their policies... citizens see the reality of what is truly happening, but the problem is that policy makers are fine pretending they are being Christian and righteous, whereas if you visit their homes they have cellars filled up with everything under the sun. What I do feel is that the Church needs to stop promoting sessions for the ban. Instead educate people and support and counsel them when they are in need...Very few churches actually reach out to alcoholics, but are rather quick in ignoring them or condemning them... Prohibition the world over has failed... The government needs to do something about the rise of spurious alcohol across the border and have severe penalties set on bootleggers, if they are going to still continue the ban or just plain lift it. The first 2/3 years I can almost see a rise in alcohol usage by people, but eventually if government agencies as well as the church and other counselors such as AA's do what they are really supposed to do, we might just see a change in attitude.... When something is not working, people need to acknowledge it and that is the time, they will finally have come of age.
• tis far we have come without any improvement, better go. N rather find a new way how to "only decrease the alcoholism!" Have an open debate being ours a Christian State, should include every section of people's voice..after all its all bout our society only.
• What prohibition r we talking about? Everybody knows that Nagaland is a dry state on papers. All the best types of boozes are available in Dimapur. Whether or not the prohibition comes out, Nagas cannot get away with the BOOZES
• A direct popular vote on such a contentious issue is not the answer to the dilemma of Prohibition in our state. The fact remains that the church (ours being a Christian-majority state) exerts a great deal of influence on the government and its policies. It is a well-settled principle in a rule of law society that morality should guide the creation of laws for the benefit of the population at large. Here, however, we should be cautious on the kind of morality guiding legislation or laws thereof. Philosophically speaking, there are two kinds of morality that one needs to be concerned about viz., conventional morality and critical morality. While conventional morality reflects the moral views of the majority of the population (which at times may be rather skewed and outdated), critical morality denotes what in fact is right irrespective of the opinion held by the majority of society. While conventional morality would tell us that Prohibition has its due place, critical morality would tell us that Prohibition has failed miserably in its purpose and regulation must be tried instead. Our leaders should muster the political will to frame legislation accordingly, keeping in mind the changing times and circumstances (not forgetting much needed revenues for the government’s exchequer). Alas, our leaders are nevertheless very often compromised by the “powers that be” and a referendum would only provide an opportunity to politicians to politicise the issue even further.
