Two decades since the Nagaland Total Prohibition Act (NLTP Act), 1989 received assent of the governor in April 1990, Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) general secretary Rev Zelhou Kehyo stated that the church’s support for the Act extended beyond theological reasons.
In an exclusive interview with Nagaland Post, Kehyo explained that the justification for the NLTP Act lay in both ethical considerations and its impact. While affirming the biblical condemnation of drunkenness, he emphasised that the church supported the Act to address the detrimental social impacts of alcoholism within families such as relationship breakdowns and financial instability.
Questioned about the effectiveness of the NLTP Act amid criticisms and whether the church acknowledged failure, he expressed cautious optimism, highlighting the need for efforts to combat alcohol-related issues, emphasising “For the Act to succeed, it will only be when all of us denounce alcohol as evil.”
Acknowledging challenges such as black marketing, illegal productions, and perceived failures, Kehyo admitted, “If the church says it is successful, yet there is a shadow to that. But if the majority of the people admit that it has failed, that may not be the right statement as well.” He however claimed that up to certain extent the situation in rural areas was under control because of the Act.
Regarding the structure and implementation of the NLTP Act, he criticised the term “total prohibition”, adding, “The word ‘total’ is misleading because the Act has taken at least 60 or 70 percent of the 1967 Act. So it’s a regulated Act like the 1967 Act. A medical doctor can prescribe alcohol to an alcoholic for a certain amount of time. Granting licences is also there. However, illegal licences and production have overshadowed the legal framework.”
He underscored the nuanced nature of the NLTP Act, suggesting to be more accurately described as a regulation rather than a complete prohibition, admitting the church’s awareness of liquor availability in the state. Admitting the church’s failure, he called for understanding the reasons why it had failed.
On the church’s focus on the NLTP Act and the Clean Election Movement (CEM), Kehyo clarified that the church’s perceived limitations were due to minimal self-promotion.
Highlighting the church’s involvement in various initiatives beyond its publicised activities, he said, “The dirty election practices in our state have given birth to many unwanted situations – corruption and non-performance. If we can succeed in this movement, then I am sure we can take control of other situations as well. When we say clean election, we are moving against corruption and good governance. So with one movement we are addressing several issues.”
On the potential of CEM becoming a failure when compared with NLTP Act and the recent urban local body and Lok Sabha electoral malpractices, Kehyo highlighted the church’s role in educating and guiding ethical conduct. He stressed more advocacies for vigilance and ethical voting practices, maintaining that societal change required collective effort.
He clarified that while the church did not rejoice over the failure of any party or group, adding that since 2017 they have been cautious about communal political parties in India.
He reiterated the church’s commitment to freedom of religion and secularism, clarifying that they did not endorse specific parties, but rather informed constituents about political developments while voicing against misinterpretations.
He further highlighted the ongoing dialogues among the NBCC, CSOs, NGOs, and government bodies for better NLTP Act enforcement, citing the church’s proactive role in supporting rehabilitation efforts for alcoholics and engaging with policymakers to improve regulatory frameworks.
Reflecting on the church’s societal impact and advocacy for good governance, Kehyo lamented the growing cynicism in Naga society. He maintained, “It is not the government that is failing, it is not the church that is failing, but we are all failing because we failed to look at each other through a positive lens,” reaffirming the church’s historical involvement in peace processes.
Regarding the Naga political movement, he reaffirmed advocating unity among political factions, highlighting the church’s non-partisan stance in political negotiations while urging for collective dialogue and reconciliation.
Looking ahead, Kehyo highlighted the NBCC’s proactive stance despite social media portrayal, emphasising its non-political role and defence of religious minorities. He envisioned NBCC continuing to unite Nagaland, foster unity, and promote societal improvement in the coming decades.