Dimapur, June 30 (MExN): The obvious stand of the apex Baptist organization in Nagaland, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council, on Prohibition has always firmly been anti-liquor. But for the stiff-cold shoulder shown to it by the government this time, a noticeably peeved NBCC today said that the government itself has been involved in encouraging liquor in Nagaland. Perhaps for the first time, the NBCC actually accused the Nagaland government itself for not living up to the Prohibition Act. The NBCC even made a rare direct statement – “corruption that is going on rampantly at many levels of governance.”
A statement of the NBCC’s Liquor Prohibition members was received here today. “It is seriously observed that during important occasions or festivals such as the government- sponsored Hornbill Festival and the Road Show, the government intentionally allows abundant flow of liquor unabated which directly makes a mockery of the Act and undermines Nagaland so called ‘a Christian state.’ The use of government VIP vehicles, especially, the Police, for transportation of liquor, has become very rampant”, stated the NBCC statement issued by Rev. L. Kari Longchar, Convener on behalf of the NBCC Liquor Prohibition Committee.
The NBCC claimed that “Christians,” are ‘prepared to stand for Prohibition through any democratic means based on moral and spiritual authority.’ The state government of Nagaland had yesterday sought consultation with Naga civil society, excluding the NBCC, to discuss the Prohibition.
“However, one thing should be clear and understood that NBCC will not tolerate any move to either to do away with the Act or relax the use of liquor legally. Prohibition is grounded on the solid teaching of the Word of God; therefore, our stand can never be compromised. In the event of revoking the Act, Christians in Nagaland are prepared to stand for Prohibition through any democratic means based on moral and spiritual authority.”
The apex Baptist organization also said the Act came due to prayer and sacrifices of Christians. “The Naga society has been victimized due to liquor consumption. The Nagaland government should not shy away from its responsibility of saving the people from the evils of alcoholism. It is expected that the rulers of the state must do all possible action to enforce the total ban on the flow of liquor so that morality and spirituality go hand in hand,” the NBCC stated.
The NBCC “knock at the conscience of the state government” over many important issues confronting the state today – socio-political, corruption “that is going on rampantly at many levels of governance,” issues of unemployment, youth problems and many others. “Despite giving attention to all these, is it justified and relevant for the Nagaland Govt. to contemplate on the issue of alcohol at this juncture?” the NBCC asked.
The NBCC urges the state government to honor its own legislation “born out of the struggle and prayer of thousands” and to urgently address all the memorandums submitted on the Prohibition Act and strengthen the various inadequate provisions of the Act. It also sought strict enforcement of the Act. “Needless to say, NBCC will stand by its commitment to the Act and caution the state government not to play any divisive policy”.
