Kohima: Amid the ongoing discussions surrounding the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, Nagaland government spokesperson and Minister of Power and Parliamentary Affairs KG Kenye said that the discussions should be viewed as a social issue and not a religious one.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Kenye remarked that the public’s recent “overreaction” to the government’s decision to discuss the Act in the state Assembly was unnecessary.
He said that the discussions on the NLTP Act are meant to encourage deliberation and that the intentions behind revisiting the Act have been misunderstood.
Kenye expressed that the government is open to evaluating the effectiveness of the NLTP Act, acknowledging that if a law is not achieving its intended effects, it should be revisited.
He clarified that the values attached to the Act have not changed, nor have the reasons and dynamics that originally led to its implementation.
Whether to regulate or leave the situation unregulated for another 34-35 years is something that the government is thoroughly discussing, he noted. Kenye added that if all is not well, it is only natural to make a proposition.
Kenye said that the government is not averse to any kind of suggestions. He highlighted the importance of taking things easy and not letting issues escalate unnecessarily.
He further highlighted the importance of addressing issues head-on rather than avoiding them. “We have differences, but how would the public like a government that avoids issues and risks controversies? Or would they prefer a proactive government that confronts these challenges? We leave it to the people to judge,” he said.
He reiterated that the consumption of alcohol is a social issue that needs to be addressed and should not be conflated with religious concerns. “This is not a religious issue but a social menace that governments and leaders worldwide are trying to resolve,” he said.
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