Churches in Nagaland unify in chorus for clean election, censure violence

Cautions against ‘communal forces’, suppression of democratic values

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 20 (MExN): With Nagaland set for polls to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly in a week time, church bodies in Nagaland in unified chorus on Tuesday urged the electorates to abide by NBCC’s call for clean election and to elect God fearing leaders to lead the people towards a free corruption State.  

The churches were also vocal in their antipathy towards supporting political parties which could emerge as a threat to Christian faith and practice. It also condemned the suppressions of democratic values by clan or khel or village dominance, assassination bid on candidates.  

The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) in a clarion call to exercise franchise with Christian principles urged the electorates to elect good leaders having ability to lead the people towards a free-corruption State and exercise one’s voting right with Christian principles and commitment for a better Nagaland.  

It also stated that it is a time to “choose our future with Christian and Naga identity and to have allegiance towards one’s faith, rather than by going with any communal party.  

The Ao Theological Association (ATA) while acknowledging the cry for just development and good governance among the Naga citizens, however, called upon the electorates to be conscious and cautious “not to let the slogan of development and good governance persuade the Naga Christians to deny the Cross of Jesus Christ.”  

“Development as an alternative to our Christian faith and practice will be costly and therefore we must stand against it and be willing to live a poor and miserable life than deny Jesus Christ and His teaching. Let us not trade our Christian faith for development. We would rather be in the manger than in the mansions,” the ATA press release stated.  

The Association also pointed out that choosing of “the right and God fearing candidates is meaningless when high handedness and control of the party by the so called high command’ is the present political narrative. Further, the exercise of individual democratic rights has become meaningless when there is community supremacy over individual freedom in choosing the candidate.  

A more direct Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) maintained that “if anyone claims to be born again Christian, it would be too blind to adopt the ideology and belief of Hindutva which advocates uniform civil code; introduction of yoga in schools and disturbing or ignoring Christian calendar events and persecuting churches, believers and missionaries in the mainland India, just to mention a few.”  

Stating that “it would be unfortunate if any believer paves way to let such ideologies to creep into the Christian society,” the CBCC called on all Christians to “stand firm in their faith.”  

The Council also pointed out that Clean Election campaign is not only against buying or selling of votes, proxy voting, drinking and distribution of liquor alone. “We must also be cautious about our words, for with words we hurt each other, and violence in any manner. All these things break our good relationship.”  

Election will come and go but we as people of the same community and state will continue to live together. So let us control ourselves and behave well to be acceptable both by man and God, it added.  

The Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC) condemned the suppressions of democratic values by clan or khel or village dominance, assassination bid on candidates in Mokokchung and Wokha and the rampant use of money to woo voters.  

“Despite many hardcore skeptics on clean election movement, there are many other individuals, groups and organizations who have responded positively to the call of the church for which this campaign is where it is now, and we are truly thankful,” the ABCC also stated.  

The Council of Rengma Baptist Churches (CRBC) made a call to take a firm stand to exercise one’s vote consciously on the basis of one vote without selling. Further, every citizen has the right to expect their leaders to work for the uplift of the people during and after election without resorting to corruption to make up for illegal expenses, if any, it went on to state.  

The CRBC further urged members of all Rengma Churches to fly the Clean Election flag that has been distributed through respective churches to symbolize adopting of Clean Election principles so that every individual can freely exercise their franchise as a fundamental right to vote.  

DGP Nagaland appeal for free & fair election

DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 20 (MExN): Director General of Police, Nagaland on Tuesday appealed the public to consciously refrain from any act that will vitiate the process of free and fair elections and invite adverse notice or action from the arms of law.  

According to a DIPR report, DGP Rupin Sharma in a press release cautioned that having a negative police record may negatively influence the process of obtaining police verification, character certificate, no objection certificate etc from the police department for the purpose of arms licenses, passport, job application, educational purposes etc. The DGP said Nagaland Police has been actively involved in the conduct of peaceful, fair and free elections in Nagaland under the guidance, supervision and directions of the Election Commission of India.  

It has in this process commenced drive for preventive actions of various kinds against any person/ persons who are involved in or are likely to be involved in vitiating the process of free and fair polls.  

In addition, as a part of the Expenditure Monitoring Architecture that has been set up in the districts; the police department has initiated several steps to curb the use of muscle power, money power and liquor during elections leading to seizure, arrest and registration of FIRs in the police stations.