DIMAPUR, JUNE 16 (MExN): Pointing out that Nagaland has over 12 lakh vote registered right now, the Convener of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) K. Therie has argued his case that we should be having around 8 lakh registered voters. “Now therefore, we have about 4 lakh bogus voters to elect bogus/fraud MLAs to represent us in the Assembly”, stated a press note issued by Therie.
Therie explains that according to 2011 census Nagaland has a population of 19, 80,000 which is lower than the 2001 census. He further stated that as per the Churches census, NBCC has around 3 lakh Baptist Members and 6 lakh associate Members; Catholics and other denominations have over 50,000 Baptized Members with nearly 1,00,000 Associate Members each. Other denominations including Muslims and Hindus may account for about 2, 00,000 lakh; totaling to around 14, 00,000 lakh. As such, Therie explained that according to the national average we should have about 60% of this figure as registered voters and therefore honestly, we should have around 8 lakh registered voters”.
“One man, one vote, in one constituency is the law in the nation. Anyone impersonating, promoting, protecting or defending more than one registration, mismatched photos with names, enrollment of underage persons, fabricated age or erroneous and defective statement in the electoral roll attracts punishable law with a term of imprisonment or fine or with both. It is the duty of Government officers to enforce the law as laid down in The Representation of People Act 1950 and relevant IPC sections”, Therie stated.
Therie has also termed it as “shocking that village leaders including ex-Pastor/deacons are saying that erroneous/defective electoral roll is prepared in the interests of the village and therefore, any person raising opposition will be expelled from the village”. “Many Booth Level Agents and Booth Level Officers have been summoned and intimidated. Some Booth Level Agents were even forced to sign that they have not made complaint, many are fighting back”.
According to Therie, Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” - John 8:32. Therie stated that those who believe should now rise to the occasion and that “Nagaland Churches should rise to the occasion and show honesty to God and the people in clearing bogus voters by providing Church records to the Election Officers in their respective polling stations”.
The Congress leader also stated that Churches should also prevent its members from protecting erroneous and defective E/Roll and that “trying to shelter dishonest and bogus e/roll is a sin in front of God and sin in front of laws”.
“Whatever may be, Deputy Chief Election Commissioner of India in a meeting with all political parties on 23rd April 2012 clearly pointed out that prima facie true erroneous/defective enumerations in the E/Roll will be deleted suo-moto by Chief Election Offices”. In this regard Therie suggested that CEO summon copies of registers of births and deaths from all the villages, school admissions registers and Church Registers for verifications.
