Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation, comprising of 97 colonies and 23 Wards under urban areas of Dimapur, have, reaffirmed the stand for lifting of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989 and called upon the state government to project a strong political will and stand up for the rights and plights of its citizens.
In line with the stand against NLTP Act 1989, DUCCF on Saturday, re-submitted the August 28,2023 representation as entrusted by the Naga Council Dimapur to the governor of Nagaland La Ganesan which was jointly signed by president Zasivikho Zakiesato, general secretary Arep Changkija, vice presidents—Vikheto Chisho, Wojamo Lotha, Tongzuk Pongen, asst. general secretary Bokato Wotsa, treasurer Renathung Ezung, finance secretary Akusu Zeliang, asst. finance secretary Vikiye Swu, info & publicity secretary Kevipietsu Savino, asst. info & publicity secretaries– Kosi Rao and Teisovinuo Lotha.
DUCCF revealed that its demand for repeal of NLTP Act was based on research conducted by its dedicated team of professionals from various backgrounds on non-implementation of NLTP Act, particularly in and around Dimapur district and noted the adverse impact upon the citizens of Nagaland.
DUCCF said it opined that NLTP imposed upon the citizens of Nagaland was akin to various fanatical organizations calling for “a ban on celebration of Valentine’s Day, love Jihad or dictating what to eat, dress or speak”.
Further it pointed out that Dimapur city, with a population of 3,78,811 (2011 Census), has more than a thousand bootleggers operating inside illegal bars, hotels, resorts, restaurants, dhabas, roadside chips & mineral water bottle shops, etc. translating to approximately 1 outlet per 380 people.
DUCCF said this was an abnormally high number considering that in a licensed environment there may hardly be a fraction of the above number of shops selling over-the-counter alcohol, it said. It also pointed out that the illegal business generates a mind-boggling revenue of Rs. 15 crore in a month alone. Besides this, DUCCF claimed that the health department has also confirmed that the illegal/bootlegged liquor flowing freely into Nagaland from the porous border of neighboring states were mostly spurious and more harmful than regular IMFL.
Citing the case of the United States of America, which had implemented prohibition on January 16, 1919, DUCCF said that it generated an ecosystem that encouraged illegal means to make liquor available to the public, even among the law and order mechanism and politicians. High profits from selling and distributing bootleg alcohol was worth the risk while police had a difficult time enforcing prohibition.
The mafia took advantage of prohibition and began selling illegal alcohol and the profits from bootlegging far exceeded the traditional crimes of protection, extortion, gambling, and prostitution.
Eventually, The Eighteenth Amendment was repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933, which remained the only constitutional amendment in American history to be repealed.
DUCCF said it took 14 long years for the US to accept this reality. However, Nagaland government and its influencers were yet to learn the same bitter truth even after 34 years, it said. The federation said that enough consultations had taken place and asserted that “34 years of misery in our society is enough for our generation, and economic loss to our state.”