In this file photo, students are seen attending a clean election campaign held at Deluxe Point, Kiphire on March 30, 2019 (Morung File Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 5
Amid the renewed focus on Clean Election in Nagaland with State possibly going to poll in one year time, readers’ opinions are divided on whether the State, Church and local bodies can join hands more effective Clean Election movement in the State.
“Do you think the Clean Election movement will be more effective if the State, Church and local bodies join hands to work together?” The Morung Express posed to its readers last week.
Some 36% of the respondents agreed that coming together of the three entities would make the movement more effective, however, 33% disagreed. Likewise, 31% of the readers choose ‘Others’ denoting an ambiguity on the issue.
At the time of filing this report, The Morung Express had received around 100 respondents for the poll.
The Church is the most important instrument in Nagaland and its involvement in the clean election movement is very “important,” noted a reader, however, regretting that the “current mentality and narrow theology is limiting the Christian faith.”
“Many Nagas believe that the Church should not get involved in politics. Does this mean that Jesus Christ has no jurisdiction or involvement in politics? This is not true because teachings of Jesus apply to every part of life. For the clean election movement to grow, the Church must be involved actively. There is no shortcut,” the reader added.
For another, it would work if the State, Church, and Local Bodies pushed for a party or candidate that is “transparent with their financial funding with debates and substantive matters, ideas, agendas for the people.”
“Surely, it is everyone's business and therefore, if everyone comes together, surely success will be the peoples,” another reader noted.
However, skeptics are aplenty. Many who disagreed or chose ‘Others’ in the poll, questioned the timing of the Clean Election movement, which they felt must be a continued campaign.
“Why the clean election movement always rears its head only in the last moment. This shows they are not serious. It is only lip service. Nothing will change when you do things at the last moment,” a reader commented.
“…Clean election won't happen overnight and it will take time but it should be a continuous movement,” another reader noted, further suggesting for the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to visit Mizoram and learn something from how under the “initiative and role of Young Mizo Association (YMA), election is fought free and fair without any problem.”
For the rest of 4 years we don't hear anything about Clean Election but only when election is right around the corner they start working on the campaign which is very late, the reader observed, further calling for setting up separate cell under the initiative of NBCC and NGOs to particularly work only for Clean Election.
Endemic corruption and systematic failure were also cited by many for apparent failure of Clean Election movement in Nagaland.
“Everyone is corrupted nowadays. Can't trust any social, religious or political leaders. When Money speaks everyone is silent,” remarked one respondent.
“The State, Church and Local bodies working together will not solve the problem of elections driven by power, money and alcohol. The root problem of why money is such a big factor in elections must first be identified,” added another.
The real problem, many observed, is social-economic issue.
“This is a real social and economic issue. It is related to poverty and the corrupt system. We are all stuck in a vicious cycle. The politicians and bureaucrats have corrupted and abused the system. The funds that are meant to reach the public never reach them. So during elections the public see this as a golden opportunity to fleece the politicians by selling their votes at exorbitant rates…” a reader commented.
After winning, politicians know that they won by power and so, they see the victory as a mandate to do what they like and “spend the next 3 to 4 years recovering the money.”
“The cycle continues. Who will break this cycle? The state, church and local bodies are part of this cycle and will not be able to break it,” the reader added.
“I met and had personal talk with many, in most cases it is poverty, unemployment and economy imbalances that leads to corruption. Those candidates who are planning to win votes without using pork barrel, there is no way they will get votes even from their own relatives…” informed another. “Whatever it is, the bottom line is, where I am from, mouth and actions doesn't do the talk during election, money does…”
There is a consensus that all stakeholders are deeply involved in the making the system as it is.
“No organisation wants clean election. Every one thrives on this evil practice. Only reforms in our own self and social audit on the unlimited powers of elected representatives can bring clean election,” suggested a reader.
Others noted that clean election should start from Sunday schools while another said that while clean election movement is noble, it needs trust and confidence of the people.
“The leaders and organisers of this movement must win the trust of the people first if they are to succeed,” the reader said.
“An in-depth study must be done by the Clean Election Movement to establish why the Elections are dirty. Without this understanding, the Clean Election will not be able to move forward,” added another.
