Nagaland Baptist Church Council firm against lifting NLTP Act

Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has reaffirmed its strong opposition to repealing the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, while instead, pledging to collaborate with the government to strengthen enforcement.
NBCC general secretary Rev. Dr. Mar Pongener and secretary social concern Dr. Villo Naleo argued that poor compliance does not justify repeal, likening the Act to laws against theft or murder. The Church asserted that legislation remains crucial to uphold moral standards and restrain evil, even if violations occur.
The NBCC warned that repealing laws simply due to non-compliance invites “moral chaos.” Characterizing the NLTP Act as a moral declaration rather than just a statute, the NBCC asserted that alcohol remains a social evil destroying families. The Council argued the failure lies not with the Act itself, but with the lack of political will and effective enforcement.
The NBCC identified systemic failures, including an under-equipped excise department and porous borders, as key hurdles to the NLTP Act.
Dismissing the term “Total Prohibition” as misleading, the Church noted that Clauses 16 and 14 actually permit regulated sales to foreigners and for medical use.
Consequently, the Council argued that the proliferation of black markets stems not from the Act’s rigidity, but from a sheer lack of political will to enforce it.
In this regard, the NBCC highlighted the state government’s unilateral relaxations of the Act-specifically for the 2023 G-20 meet and the 2024 Hornbill Festival-as proof that prohibition is no longer “total” in practice. Criticizing the lack of consultation with the Prohibition Commission, the Church also dismissed arguments for legalization to curb spurious liquor. The Council asserted that replacing bootlegged alcohol with “genuine” brands merely exchanges one evil for another, failing to solve the underlying moral and social crisis.
Asserting that “evil is evil,” the NBCC rejected the notion of a “lesser evil,” stating all alcohol harms society. Dismissing claims that prohibition fuels drug addiction, the Church termed them parallel evils that complement rather than cure each other. Describing the Act as a spiritual covenant, the NBCC defended it as a moral guide despite imperfect adherence.
Likening the Act to a biblical guardian against evil, the NBCC cited Galatians 3:24 to defend the law’s moral necessity. While open to reviewing the Act for better enforcement, the NBCC vowed to maintain its “prophetic voice,” asserting that alcohol remains a societal ill just as it was 35 years ago, regardless of legislative changes.