Adopts ‘Naga identity’ stance in line with a regional party political slogan
Dimapur, Feb. 20 (EMN): With exactly a week left before Nagaland goes to polls on Feb. 27, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has asked voters to elect “god-fearing” leaders.
Even as the NBCC has repeatedly asked voters not to choose ‘any communal party’, it has also been encouraging the electorate to assert their allegiance to Christian faith while voting–a move that has invited applause as well as criticism in equal measure.
On Tue. the NBCC issued a statement asking the voters to elect “good leaders, who are god-fearing, well-cultured, well-educated having ability to lead our people towards a free-corruption state”. It has asked voters to choose ‘Naga identity’ which, coincidentally, is also the byword of one of the political party’s election campaign this time.
“…it is a time to choose our future with Christian and Naga identity and encourages its members to have allegiance towards one’s faith, rather than by going with any communal party,” the statement read. It also advised the candidates “not to buttress the voters by money power nor to be threatened by development (sic)”.
Two affiliates of the NBCC – the Angami Baptist Church Council (ABCC) and the Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) – also issued separate statements reiterating support to the NBCC’s call for clean election.
“Some want the church, particularly NBCC and its associations, to stay away from it (elections) completely by saying it’s not her realm of involvement. Others expect the church to raise volunteers and play enforcement role, if the situation demands. Still some others allege that the church is hypocritical and bias,” an ABCC statement read.
It stated that the church’s commitment was sincere despite its shortcomings. “ABCC vehemently condemns suppression of democratic values by clan or khel or village dominance, assassination bid on candidates in Mokokchung and Wokha no matter what may be the reason behind, rampant use of money to woo voters, and all other forms of evil.
“Despite many hardcore sceptics on clean election movement, there are many other individuals, groups, and organizations who have responded positively to the call of the church for which this campaign is where it is now, and we are truly thankful to you all. We hope together we can take the movement forward until we reach our desired goal someday,” it stated.
The CBCC also stated that clean election campaign was not only “against buying or selling of votes, proxy voting, drinking and distribution of liquor” but also about being cautious with words, “for with words we hurt each other”.
It stated that for any ‘born-again Christian’ it would be “too blind to adopt the ideology and belief of Hindutva which advocates uniform civil code; introduction of yoga in schools and disturbing or ignoring Christian calendar events and persecuting churches, believers and missionaries in the mainland India, just to mention a few”.
