Dimapur, August 30 (MExN): People of Langpangkong area in Mokokchung district have observed that unlike other years, this time even with election approaching people are restraining from indulging in old habit of electoral malpractices. This observation was shared with the Langpangkong Students’ Conference Clean Election Campaign Committee (LKMCECC) during their second phase of tour conducted in villages of the area last week.
The LKMCECC toured 13 villages and one town unit from August 24 to 26. LKMCECC told the people election period should not be a time of violence or creating enmity within one’s own community rather it should be a time of celebration for getting a political opportunity as citizens to exercise one’s own political right to choose political representative. It urged the people to maintain moral standard in every activity of their life, depart from the sinful life of amassing wealth without work, eating without labour, commerce without morality, politics without principle and religious life without sacrifice. In one of the campaign meetings, a pastor expressed anguish and regret for not being able to cast his own vote owing to undemocratic system adopted by the community during election. “I am 50 years old now, but I have seen neither ballot paper nor Electronic Voting Machine in my life. However, now that I pledged myself to participate in clean election process, I will cast my own vote myself as and when election comes,” he said.
The villagers also expressed disappointment that almost all the candidates did not keep their promises made during elections and seldom visit their villages unless called to attend function as chief guest. As a mark of their commitment to clean election principle, many families in the villages have hoisted the ABAM Clean Election flag on the top of their houses. During the tour, based on the resolutions adopted on September 3, 2016 at Chuchuyimlang, the village councils and other apex civil organizations and the church authority were entrusted to constitute the Action Committee on Clean Election which will work hand and hand with the LKMCECC and act as the guardian of “Chuchuyimlang Resolution On Clean Election” in their respective village and areas.
“Clean Election campaign is not just a campaign to vote during election but it is a spiritual war that we should all fight against the sins within ourselves; it is a battle that can be won with self determination and commitment to contribute something in the course restructuring our society for a better tomorrow. It is a war that will go on fighting beyond election for ensuring good governance in our state,” the LKMCECC declared.
The LKMCECC also appealed to all concerned and Langpangkong people in particular to observe the 1st anniversary of launching of LKM Clean Election Campaign with a 30-minute solemn prayer in every home on September 3 at 6:00 am. It asked to pray for LKMCECC members’ spiritually, for the success of the Clean Election Campaign in Nagaland. The LKMCECC further appealed all the churches in Langpangkong area irrespective of denomination to conduct a mass prayer during Sunday devotional service on September 3 for clean election to ensure clean government in Nagaland. During their tour, LKMCECC also experienced pathetic and risky road conditions in many places and very irregular power supply, which cause economic loss to the entrepreneurs and untold inconveniences to the students.
