NBCC begins Clean Election Campaign at Kohima Science College, Jotsoma
Morung Express News
Jotsoma | July 22
In an honest admission, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), apex body of the churches organizations of Nagaland on Friday said it has failed its people.
“The church is not the owner, the custodian of clean election campaign. But we are responsible and we have not carried out that responsibility well. We have failed as the church, as leaders and I am not here to blame anyone. But in our many failures we muster our strength to take the step of leading the campaign because change must take place,” admitted Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho, General Secretary of NBCC while undertaking the Clean Election Campaign (CEC) on July 22 at Kohima Science College, Jotsoma.
Under the theme, ‘The impact of our birthright’, the NBCC began its CEC today. The campaign expects to cover all districts with the objective of urging the citizens to stop corrupt practices of electioneering in Nagaland.
While admitting the failure of the Church, Keyho, however maintained that despite its many failures, the Church has also mustered courage. “The church is not a holy Angel. It has its own share of failures. We cannot be blaming each other non-stop, there can be no solution if we continue to keep on blaming each other and not act. We must start to act and do what is right. Let us not blame the politicians as we often like to do, they are not responsible. And likewise, let us not allow the politicians to blame us,” Keyho injected.
The NBCC General Secretary also sought to point out that the Church is not the owner of CEC, “All of us are the owners and custodians. The Church holds no vote but you and I are the voters.”
Keyho said corrupt practices in election has robbed the Nagas of their rights and privileges, “stolen our shares and messed up our future further making the people voiceless.” In such tiring times, the CEC aims to be a movement, which “will have to touch the core of our ethos, our ethical sense and mind to realize what is right from wrong,” he added.
To students of Kohima Science College, Keyho urged, “We are here to tell you we need you, we need your commitment and your involvement.” He also appealed the young students not to give the chance for politicians to blame them.
“The past present generation has created a mess for you. I am the present and past generation. We cannot envision a future for you unless you join the movement. Unless the spirit of ‘Enough is Enough’ comes from the present-future generation, we are doomed. But with you on the boat, we have a bright future,” the NBCC General Secretary exhorted.
Stressing on the impact of one’s birthright during election where many voters sell their votes over money, liquor and food in Nagaland, Keyho posited that a single vote has power to change the course of society and unlock the future to a world of hope.
However, that birthright has been used wrongly with many people using it like machine guns casting multiple of proxy votes, he lamented adding that unless Nagas break the vicious cycle of the system, they will perish as a people and a nation.
Kohima Science College Principal, Dr Anungla Aier maintained that there are certain issues in which one needs to take a stand, whatever the situation or environment may be. She reminded that a “beautiful society cannot be created if you cannot stand for what is right.”
Assistant Chief Electoral Officer, Awa Lorin updated the students on Clean Electoral Roll Drive in Nagaland while revealing that the department has generated more than 50,000 duplications and is expecting more.
“The electoral roll is still very dirty. It is not error free. We have multiple registration and bogus registrations. This has become very rampant in Nagaland. Nobody is entitled to be registered in more than one place. Election is not a privilege, it is a responsibility. If we are a part of the problem, we are also a part of the solution,” stated Lorin.
At the campaign, the students were also invited to sign a pledge card to vote truthfully, not cast any proxy vote and not to be bribed.
