[dropcap]N[/dropcap]aga people’s attention is once again drawn to the much debated issue of prohibition. Going through several opinions during the past week, it is pertinent that individuals, organizations and churches raise views for public consumption and action thereof. The foremost thing that comes in our mind is- why did our people and the NLA in 1989 passed this NLPT Act? Secondly, why is the present NLA necessitating a special sitting for discussing of this Act? Reading between the lines, this special NLA session is ostensibly on the pretext of lifting the NLPT Act 1989!
Our leaders in 1989 and prior to this saw the everyday realities of our society and also foresaw the terrible impact upon the posterities and took this drastic step of prohibition. All Nagas pre-NLPT Act knew the condition of our homes and streets and so the passing of the Act. Then, why should Nagas post-NLPT Act argue for lifting this said Act? Instead, can we discuss on why and how this Act was passed and how can we strengthen and implement this in letter and spirit?Those who are for lifting this Act, their top two agenda are spurious/adulterated liquor and the revenue. It is a plain fact that, “drinking of liquor is injurious to health.” This is labeled vividly on every liquor bottle or containers. This is not a church label or an emotional statement, but medically proven all over the world. Whether spurious or not, consumption of liquor/alcohol is harmful for our body and there is no condition(s) or optional positive effects. One doesn’t require rocket science to prove this simple logic. You are not normal when you drink liquor, and this is the bottom line for any stretch of imagination. If drinking spurious liquor kills a person in couple of years, where is the guarantee that drinking unadulterated liquor will not kill the drinker? Re-read the label on the bottle and let it speak for all.
By chance, the special NLA session decides to lift the NLPT Act, it will infamously go down in the annals of world history that, Nagaland (for Christ) lifted the prohibition Act at a time when the state coffers were empty, not just being empty but on huge deficit. This will be like auctioning of our Biblical values and Christian principles under the hammer of Satan! “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit (lose) his soul”—Mark 8:36. If Gujarat is a dry state, and still the nation talks of Gujarat model of development and progress, where are we heading to?
Revenue? There are so many instances where vehicle accidents take place, and the top reason for these accidents is drunk driving. Calculate the revenue earned vis-à-vis the precious innocent lives lost, cost of treatments incurred, lifetime wound/effect one carries, lost of properties and also the ex-gratia that the government pays. Like the proverbial rhyme “For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail,” let us not lost Nagaland for want of revenue.
Let the special session of NLA on NLPT Act be truly a special one to uplift the wellbeing of Nagas by reinforcing the Act, strategizing the implementation policy and increasing the manpower of the Excise Department. If salary is the issue in increasing manpower, terminate all the bogus and extra appointments in other departments.
This also calls for the churches and organizations to be more proactive and “consistent” in our commitment to fight against the social evils confronting our society. Not ‘lifting’ but let the ‘uplifting’ of the 1989 Act be the 25th anniversary gift to the Naga Christians.
– Executive Secretary, YBBA
On Behalf of Yimchungrü Churches
