Mokokchung, 10 September (MTNews): The Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the NLTP Act and has pledged to continue its unwavering fight for its reinforcement.
In a statement issued by its Executive Secretary, Rev. Dr. Prof. Mar Pongener, and President Rev. Temshi Longkümer on Sunday, ABAM emphasized that the persistent threat of alcoholism is a grim reality for Naga society, impacting various dimensions of human lives. The statement asserted, “One cannot ignore the detrimental effects it brings, starting with the loss of human lives. This issue demands serious attention from every responsible citizen and corporate sector of our society.”
Nagaland is one of the Indian states where the government enacted the Liquor Prohibition Act in 1989, which prohibits the transportation, importation, possession, sale, purchase, consumption, manufacture, and use of materials for liquor production, as stated in the release. The statement further highlighted that “this movement was spearheaded by various organizations, including the Church, Women’s, and Youth organizations, with the vision of eradicating the vices associated with liquor and its usage.”
“After relentless efforts by the leaders of the Baptist Churches in Nagaland, the long-awaited Bill was introduced in the Nagaland Assembly on November 9, 1989. Finally, on March 29, 1990, after 28 years of persistent struggle, the ‘Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act’ was passed. With this, Nagaland was officially declared a Dry State,” ABAM reminded.
The statement firmly asserted that the removal of the NLTP Act today would exacerbate issues such as physio-psycho-social deterioration, moral decay, spiritual tarnish, and social paralysis on a large scale among the Nagas.
It posed critical questions, stating, “There may be lucrative revenue for a few, but who will be responsible for the victims of this menace? The innocent lives lost under the influence of alcohol, financial losses, increased immorality, broken homes, endless domestic violence, rising death tolls due to alcohol use, and negligence of work or responsibilities, among others. Can anyone guarantee that the value of human life will be enhanced with free access to sell and promote liquor? What is your priority – the preservation of human values or economic growth? Who can ensure that the morality, spirituality, and modesty of Naga society will reach its zenith if we remove the NLTP Act?”
ABAM stated unequivocally that it will continue in its relentless fight for the reinforcement of the NLTP Act. “We choose to uphold the legacy of our Christian forebears in Nagaland, who fasted with tears and sacrificed their lives for this noble cause, i.e., ‘The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989’ (The Nagaland Act No. 4 of 1990), which was endorsed by the then Governor of Nagaland on April 13, 1990,” it maintained.