Dimapur: Two affiliates of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), the Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC) and the Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC), have issued statements reiterating support to the NBCC’s call for clean election.
The Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC) has appealed to the people of Nagaland to listen to God’s voice and have the courage to do the right thing.
ABCC executive director Rev. Dr V. Atsi Dolie, in a communiqué, said the church for some years has been trying its best to educate the people for a clean election.
The NBCC has asked voters to elect “god-fearing” leaders.
“…it is a time to choose our future with Christian and Naga identity and encourages its members to have allegiance towards one’s faith, rather than by going with any communal party,” the statement read. It also advised the candidates “not to buttress the voters by money power nor to be threatened by development”.The CBCC stated that clean election campaign was not only “against buying or selling of votes, proxy voting, drinking and distribution of liquor” but also about being cautious with words, “for with words we hurt each other”.
Responding to the allegations that NDPP-BJP alliance was a threat to the Christian faith, Neiphiu Rio thanked the church leaders for being the watchdog of the Naga society and said there was nothing to worry about as the NDPP elected legislators will not compromise on any issue concerning the Christian faith.
“We are happy that the church leaders have come up their concerns. However, there is nothing to worry about. Our rights to freedom of religion have been enshrined in the Constitution,” Rio said.
(Source: The Telegraph)