Kohima, August 26 (MExN): The Kohima Baptist Pastors' Fellowship (KBPF) today joined others in upping its ante against the possible ‘revisit’ of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, terming it not only unwise, irresponsible, and a dangerous step backward, but also an outright violation of God's teaching.
The KBPF expressed deep concern and strong opposition to the purported recent decision of the State Cabinet to revisit the Act and to partially lift it in Nagaland.
It further conveyed its firm solidarity with the position adopted by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council and stated that it would continue to advocate for policies that promote the welfare and safety of our citizens.
“In the context of Nagaland, the voice of the Church is the majority. So it is our prayer and earnest hope that the Government would listen to the voice of the people,” it added.
The KBPF also called upon every believer, irrespective of denomination, and all responsible citizens to prayerfully oppose any such move.
Giving a backdrop to its stance, the Fellowship stated that as pastors, they encounter and deal with people with a variety of problems, most of which are alcohol-related.
Alcohol abuse not only leads to health complications but also moral and spiritual degradation, family breakdown, domestic violence, and other social problems, it contended.
It further pointed out that while some have argued that lifting the prohibition will boost the economy through increased sales and tax revenues, it is a “short-term gain” which would be offset by very costly “long-term social, physical, psychological, spiritual, and economic deterioration of families.”
“Can the state afford to pay this price by playing with the lives of its citizens?” the KBPF posed.
The Fellowship further argued that the Act itself has not failed, but implied that “we have collectively failed” in its implementation.
“It is therefore not the time to be talking about lifting or relaxing but to strengthen it by way of implementing the Act,” it added.
Accordingly, it urged the Government of the day to strictly implement the Act, as relaxation would be disastrous.
It also reminded that the NLTP Act has long served as a safeguard against the harmful effects of alcohol consumption.
One must also look into the history of how the NLTP Act was enacted in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), it noted.
It was the outcome of fervent prayers of believers, as well as much pain and struggle through mass protests, public rallies, and even fast unto death, spearheaded by the NBCC, Naga Mothers' Association (NMA), and other civil societies, it added.
