Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 4
The youth department of Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) in association with Administrative Training Institute (ATI), Government of Nagaland is organizing a seminar on clean election on July 5 from 9:00 AM onwards at ATI, Kohima. Topics of discussion includes introduction to clean election campaign by Dr. Hovithal Sothu, role of church in politics by Mongzeung, election code of conduct and the legal perspective by Hekani Jakhalu.
It may be recalled that the NBCC’s Working Committee on Clean Election Campaign has recently released a booklet on clean election campaign. Highlighting some electoral malpractices prevailing in Nagaland, the booklet said candidates have used money to woo voters, while on the other hand voters demand money from the candidates for their votes.
Many voters, forgetting their birthrights have sold themselves and their rights for money and favours during election. It stated that the financial resource drained during the electioneering process has a direct negative bearing on future development programmes.
“The extravagant expenses must be curtailed as there is no hard and fast rule that a candidate should spend huge amount to win. Voters should also realize that demanding money for votes is wrong as God desires His people to choose the right leader without resorting to any unfair practices,” the booklet stated.
The booklet also stated that with the ulterior motive to increase the voters list, many political party workers add names of those minors who are not mature yet. Under Universal Adult Franchise, every citizens of India who is 18 years and above whether rich or poor, irrespective of their religion, caste, sex or education has a right to vote. However the names of many minors are included in the electoral rolls. This is a crime as it is against the law.
It stated that the establishment of camps in colonies, towns and villages encourages and often becomes a breeding ground of all kind of malpractices such as, use of alcohol, drugs, gambling, sexual immoralities, violence etc.
Also stating that it also disturbs the already fragile social fabric of towns and villages, and further endangers the society and the future of the youth, the NBCC said that the practice of establishing camps should be stopped except those designated offices. “This will curtail expenses and avoid unfavourable and abominable activities before God,” it said.
It also stated that National workers should not be made, to be used as tools or puppets by some selfish politicians as their aspiration and pursuit is different from the constitutional impetus. “Their involvement has been very annoying because by using arms, threats with dire consequences etc. they have been stealing the rights of the general public. National workers should oppose any vested politician/s who solicits their support to scare away the public and disrupt the democratic election,” it said.
Stating “Our vote is a God given right,” it said in such sense, voting is a sacred right and it is our moral might. Therefore, it is foolishness on the part of an individual to seek his/her vote for any amount of money. Selling one’s vote is to sell oneself.’ Also stating selling of vote is selling one’s birthright and it is a sin before God, the booklet said “Let it be clear that your vote cannot be sold or brought because it belongs to you. It is one’s own freedom of choice to vote for a person whom he/she chooses to vote for. Therefore no one has the right to threaten/manipulate another person to vote against his/her will.”
On proxy voting and booth capturing, it said every individual has a unique identity which is a gift from God. It however regretted that when we look at the whole scenario of the present election practices, proxy voting is rampant. “Proxy voting is stealing of another’s identity and that amounts to impersonation, therefore it is a crime. Booth capturing is unethical and unconstitutional and goes against the Christian principle of free will. Proxy voting and booth capturing is a punishable offence and identical with robbery and therefore it is a sin.”
Referring to choosing of candidates, it said “in the process of choosing candidate, many individuals choose to select and vote for those who can spend more money during elections with the aim of getting maximum benefit during election itself. Many do not consider those who are God fearing, principled, competent and with integrity.” The NBCC felt that it is high time that “we choose the right candidates, so that the desired changes can be brought about to our society.”
Stating that the election code of conduct requires that our vote should be secret, it however said in our context most people do not keep it a secret, thus resulting in undesired hatred and fights between parties and individuals. “As Christians, it is our duty to abide by the law and hence we should keep our vote a secret,” NBCC said.
On prayer groups and church workers, it said past elections have also shown that during elections, many church workers and prayer groups go to the candidate’s house for prayers either on invitation or otherwise. Many individuals do this for monetary benefits, rather than to glory the Lord.
On the pretext of prayer, this money minting activities should stop, it said.
The booklet also stated that it is known that many people have their names in more than one constituency and in more than one polling station even in the same constituency we are given the right to vote only once in one election.
Also stating that knowing the fact that during election the communities take decision or decisions in the name of communities to support certain candidates, the NBCC said “This denies individuals who may have a different choice their freedom of choice which is a violation of our God given right.”
The booklet also features points on “Christians in politics: A Biblical and Theological Basic,” some election code of conduct relevant for the campaign, “Church and Politics” and a clean election pledge card.
