Dr Asangba Tzüdir
The ‘fight’ towards ensuring clean election has received a much needed psychological and moral boost with the coming together of the 7 newspaper houses in Nagaland with a strong “statement of commitment” to the call of clean elections in Nagaland. This move, which demonstrates the power of the press, is indeed laudable not just in the context of clean election but for the larger good of the society in validating ethics of responsible journalism.
Over the years, during elections certain candidates are being held in ‘high esteem’ in being endorsed and proudly declared as their village or organisations candidate in the newspapers. Wherein, restrictions are imposed and no one is allowed to vote for the candidate of their choice, and against their ‘will’ one is made to vote for the candidate endorsed by the Village Council or by their organisation.
The right to vote is a legal right and thereby, no individual having this right can be detained or prevented from voting. Translating this right, it also gives the voter the right to vote for a candidate freely so also the right to ‘reject’ without being conditioned or infringed on one’s freewill and the freedom of choice. Thus, open declarations and endorsements in the papers go against both the ‘will’ of the Indian Constitution so also the legal right of the people. Such declarations also come in the way of clean election campaign headed by NBCC. As such, the press fraternity has rightfully and in a manner most responsible declared the “statement of commitment” and thereby made a strong move towards safeguarding the voting rights of the people.
In the struggle for clean election, the goal of achieving its desired objective can come only through a collective responsibility - a moral responsibility. NBCC alone cannot achieve the objectives of clean election. In tune with the press commitment, and to push the clean election campaign forward, the apex bodies of each Naga tribe can also come together for the cause of clean election. This will gain further momentum, if the various apex bodies can also come out with a strong communique to the Village Councils debarring them from declaring and endorsing a particular candidate in addition to tightening the principles of clean election that includes besides others, a clean electoral roll and the principle of One Person – One Vote.
At a time when the ‘freedom of the press’ is being curtailed through various forms of restrictions, the press houses resolve to come together for the cause of clean election augurs well for the future of our rights, for democracy and for a just society. Hopefully, this coming together, and thereby forming a support base for each other, will see a more powerful and unified press fraternity in standing for issues that concerns the rights and welfare of the people.
In issuing the joint “statement of commitment” and in reassertion of its power, the press has rekindled the trust of the people besides creating a much needed psychological niche.
(Dr. Asangba Tzüdir is Editor of Heritage Publishing House. He contributes a weekly guest editorial to the Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
