Church bodies back NLTP Act

March 2, 2022 125 Views No Comment

March 2, 2022

Phom Baptist Christian Association and Christian Forum Dimapur have appealed to the government to strictly implement the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act (NLTP) in letter and spirit.

PBCA: Describing the NLTP Act as “a Spiritual Law”, the Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) said that “spiritual law is always virtuous for the citizens.” In a press note, PBCA executive secretary N Tialemba Phom stated that the government and NGO leaders, therefore, needed to respect, value, embrace and preserve “this Spiritual Law (Act) to truly protect us from all harms.”

PBCA said that Nagaland state was unique because of its history, culture, tradition, identity, land and belief system. In the process of emerging Nagaland as unique state, PBCA said Christianity has contributed so much. PBCA said that it was Christianity that introduced “us an era of civilisation in all spheres of life”.

The church also said that alcoholism had no place in “our Naga Christian’s belief system”, adding that “this is the way we made ourselves as Christians before God and before the world.”

Further, PBCA said that Naga church leaders and all believers have condemned the rise of alcoholism and swore to God that Nagaland would be a dry state. “Swearing No to Alcoholism and declaring Nagaland as a dry State in the context of multi-religious country is the Unique Spiritual Covenant made between God and Naga believers,” PBCA said.

PBCA, therefore, said that nobody should “boldly touch and infringe this Covenant”. Rather, it said that Naga Churches should urge the government to “actively implement NLTP, Act 1989 in Good faith.”

CFD: Christian Forum Dimapur (CFD) has resolved to appeal to the state government to implement the NLTP Act, 1989 in letter and spirit. This was decided at a meeting of the forum’s advisers and office bearers here on Monday, CFD chairman Rev. Moses Murry and secretary Rev Fr CP Anto secretary stated in a press note.

The meeting also declared that the churches were ready to come forward to support the government in implementing the Act.

Taking serious note of the reported atrocities meted out to minorities, especially the Christians, in Karnataka, the meeting also decided to write a memorandum to Karnataka and Central governments in this regard.

Asserting that India was a pluralistic country, the forum emphasised that every citizen should accept and respect diversities and that everyone should enjoy freedom and none should live in fear. Quoting 1 John 4:18 that “there is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has torment”, the forum said it was the bounden duty of every leader to ensure that everyone lived in harmony with each other.
CFD also decided to have a pastoral conference in the first week of May this year.

Earlier, the meeting commenced with invocation by Rev RP Murry, especially remembering the current crisis between Russia and Ukraine and the sufferings it caused to children and women etc.

The welcome address was delivered by Rev. Moses Murry, CFD adviser Dr N Paphino briefed on the representation of Joint Christian Forum and the presentation on the stand of the church regarding the NLTP Act while CFD adviser Rev Dr N Tzudir offered the benediction.

Source: https://www.nagalandpost.com/index.php/church-bodies-back-nltp-act/