DIMAPUR, APRIL 13 (MExN): Independent candidate to the Nagaland Lok Sabha election 2024, Hayithung Bill Lotha has endorsed the appeal made by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) to vote consciously and termed it as a “morally right stance” and a “spiritual awakening message of hope.”
“In every election in Nagaland- both state and central, we get to come across blatant tribalism/clanism, range/village-ism, muscle power, electoral coup/booth capturing, free flow of alcohol/drugs abuse, vote buying and money power at play. It totally negates the basic core principles of Christianity,” Hayithung Lotha stated through a press release on Saturday.
Responding to Nagaland unit of JD (U) accusing the NBCC of hypocrisy, the Independent candidate termed it as very “childish, immature, shameful and morally wrong on the part of JD (U) or for that matter any other political party to openly criticize the NBCC which is the apex Christian body in our State whom lakhs of Christians in Nagaland revere with awe and respect.”
On the allegation that many reverends, pastors and prominent church workers during State General Election 2023 tacitly or even openly supporting various candidates of political party, Hayithung Lotha reminded JD (U) that “in a constitutional democracy, every citizen of India has the right to support, campaign and vote in favour of any particular candidate belonging to any political party.”
“In fact, in a mature and deep rooted democracy like the USA, the elected US President use to even induct reverends/pastors as their ecclesiastical/spiritual advisors,” Hayithung Lotha elaborated while taking the instance of Rev Billy Graham, who served as official Advisor under 3 US presidential administration.
