Dimapur: The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has reminded people to go for a “clean election,” vote with a clear conscience and without influence. May 26 appeal came two days ahead of the Nagaland Lok Sabha byelection.
Naga People’s Front (NPF) president Shürhozelie Liezietsu also urged the party people to take a firm stand to defend the Christian faith.
The bypoll was necessitated after Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio resigned from the Lok Sabha in February to contest the Assembly election. The polling will be held on May 28 and the counting of votes will take place on May 31. Campaigning fclosed on May 26.
The NBCC, the biggest church organisation of the state, called upon all to exercise their franchise to bring change in a society that needs much mending.
“The church has no control over your vote and it will not define for you whom or which party you should vote for. Your vote is precious and it is God’s given birthright. The church can only tell you that your single vote is powerful,” the NBCC said in a release.
Reminding people of the clean election campaign launched by it and supported by civil society and student organisations, the NBCC said the campaign involved every aspect of the election system.
“Maybe we don’t take a byelection as seriously as we do Assembly elections, but how we deal with any electioneering system will reflect who we are. Choosing the right candidate to represent us is important,” it stated.
“Election is the civilised mode of putting up committed and able people who independently are moved to serve the people without influence. Election is not a show of power or wealth but a fair means of electing one who has the will, the ability and the call to serve the people.
To be in public office, one needs to possess a definite calling induced by the burden to serve and sacrifice and not for self-gain” it said.
Stating that the Nagas are lagging behind in all spheres of life, be it development or resources, the NBCC said it was time the Nagas took responsibility. “It is high time for all to say enough is enough and take the responsibility in public and private arenas seriously,” it added.
In Kohima, Shürhozelie told party workers in the morning that atrocities committed against Christians rose from 177 incidents in 2015 to 351 in 2017. He said he had collected some of the information from the website www.persecutionrelief.org.
On the complaint lodged by ruling coalition partners, the BJP and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), to the Election Commission against him, the NPF chief said this indicates their intention to create problems during voting and asked party workers to remain alert.
Shürhozelie said the BJP and the NDPP had stated in their complaint that his speech in support of his faith might result in clashes and street-fights. He said this was a sign of desperateness and justified his stand by saying that he was defending Article 25 of the Constitution which safeguards freedom of religion.
He advised party workers to remain calm and ensure free and fair election.
Expressing satisfaction over the NPF’s bypoll campaign, Shürhozelie said he was confident that NPF candidate C. Apo Jamir would win with a thumping majority “if the byelection is free and fair”.
(Telegraphindia)