Dimapur, December 9 (MExN): Dimapur Area Ao Baptist Arogo Pastors’ Fellowship (DAABAPF) has strongly opposed any move to repeal Nagaland’s liquor prohibition law, calling instead for its “proper and stricter” implementation.
The DAABAPF, in a meeting held on December 7, said it “prayerfully yet firmly” decided to stand against lifting the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act either partially or totally.
The fellowship unanimously affirmed to advocate for the proper implementation of the Act, stating that the 1989 law has “never been implemented in actual form,” a release said.
It condemned the State Government for “utterly” failing to implement Chapter III of the Act, which mandates the appointment of a Director of Prohibition, Prohibition Officers, and Prohibition Councils at state and district levels.
“The Act is not ‘unimplementable or a failure’ but a failure on the part of the State machinery and a sign of incompetence to hold an office,” the DAABAPF said in a statement. It added that lifting the Act would be an “immature decision”.
The fellowship highlighted that the NLTP Act was a result of mass participation by Christians, honouring the sacrifice of 125 individuals who undertook a ‘Fast unto Death’ campaign on June 23, 1989.
“This Act is an extraordinary symbol of victory over dark worldly system, which calls for a proper & stricter implementation,” the statement said.
The DAABAPF appealed to all Christians in Nagaland to retrospect on these lines and raise their voice against lifting the prohibition law. It called it a moral responsibility of Christians to advocate for the Act’s implementation with “all-out strength”.
The statement comes amid renewed calls from sections of civil society in Dimapur urging the state government to reconsider the total prohibition on liquor.
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