The other day I saw a group of unsteady youngsters with bottles on the street. The peep of my bike created no reaction, instead they stopped me and asked; “apni kun laga party ase?” I said, Bal Thackeray. “Accha, accha ami khan laga opposition nohoi,” and they left me free. I escaped from those party loyalist drunkards with a lie but the incident gave me chance for volumes to think tank.
Yeh! Election is in the air. Nagaland goes to poll in a couple of weeks. Nominations filed, candidates declared and party ticket issued. Election is picking momentum at fast pace. Promises of better roads, employment opportunities regular electricity, etc are the voices echoed. Party men are trying their best to woo the voters. In some pockets, people have become frenzy with the idea of election knocking at the door. It means huge, fast bucks and easy, free drinks. Its part of election promises and election halla-gulla.
However, on the other side there is an ugly picture in Nagaland doing its round “Liquor & Money”. How sad for conservatives but joyful news for opened mouthed consumers. “Nagaland a dry state”. Is it true? Yes, it is by law but is it possible/ No, it is just a laughable proposition. The barren land is filled with barriers of bottles. The land is flooded with red drinks. What a pity! Nagaland, a “dry State: has become too wet again. Every nook and corner is flowing with hot drinks. Election! A time to question the prohibitory lawmakers. Is Nagaland a “dry State” written only in the law? Can we do election without alcohol? I am afraid and hesitant to murmur but people are playing with the state at the expense of liquor. We are staking the state with wrong elements and taking the state at ransom. I envy our neighbor-sister Assam who is having a lion share with Nagaland’s election. They are the beneficiaries. Crores of Nagaland money is pumped in to Assam from the sell of liquors during election. The menace of alcohol at election (in particular) is alarming. It is depicting a shabby face in this Christian state. We are baptizing the young generation to a new club of drunkards and imbibing a new culture which should be foreign to our faith. We are making alcohol define our personality. Due to this influence vein for vengeance and blood for hate is created. The slogan of “Vote for… has just become “Mob for…” With this impact people will not be able to think right and bring out the right choices of leaders. How can we afford to have such an unflinching and steadfast devotion to liquor and say we are Christian in real sense? How can liquor and election terminate Christian values in this Christian state and germinate hatred, vengeance, and unforgiveness. Incidents that’s making round has lots of tales to tell. Cars burnt, houses damaged, people killed or injured paints a sorry picture for the state.
Tomorrow our leaders will be elected but will they be the right choices elected by the right people? If they are proven with the power of might, money and liquor am sorry but they will be the repeaters of our state’s sad history. If they are proven with right frame of mind by right thinking people I salute those leaders of mine. The way it appears we are heading with wrong footing towards wrong democracy. Let us keep our bottles down and choose our Leaders so that we may make three cheers when he brings changes to our state. If not, watch and enjoy again a wet election in dry Nagaland for empty promises.
Kuknalim
Fr. Rhanben Ovung
.jpg)
