Dimapur, June 28 (MExN): Concerned at the role money has come to play in elections in Nagaland, a Christian group today sought to go on a clean-polls drive with the lament that “we cannot have another election like this.” The Nagaland Christian Forum today said to have pledged to work for a ‘clean Naga society’ through a campaign christened “Clean Election Campaign”.
“A visible fact about Naga society is that bribery is getting justified and receiving bribe has become a culture with satirical note. Further, corruption has become a menace in the state election processes,” NCF said in a message received here today. The note was appended by NCF’s president Rev. Zhabu Terhüja and Secretary Fr. George Keduolhou.
The NCF lamented that a large section of people have now come to have the “fixated” concept, attitude and tendency to say that “more money means sure victory in election; less money means sure defeat in election.”
In its initiative to stop the play of power and money in elections in the state, the forum expressed optimism that citizens concerned for a fair and just society will stand by the effort of the noble task. “Election is good but dangerous because it is a weapon used to destroy oneself. Naga society has reached a stage where concerned citizens say ‘we cannot have another election like this’ and politicians say ‘we cannot feed people anymore’.”
The NCF strongly felt that a time has come for the Nagas to have ownership over the election process. “No external agencies will help the Nagas unless Nagas begin to claim the ownership of election. The churches in Nagaland need to join and build up efficient committee networks to monitor elections,” the forum stated.
The forum also said the churches in Nagaland have not done enough to eradicate corruption. “NCF has 4 to 5 years to prepare the mindset of the people for clean election with faith, hope and love, the task and goal is achievable,” the NCF’s message stated.
