Our Correspondent
Kohima/Wokha, August 4 (EMN): With barely six or seven months away the next State general elections, the movement for the Clean Election Campaign (CEC), initiated by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), has gain momentum with effort to spread the message to every citizen joining hands for the clean election movement.
To support the NBCC clean election campaign, the Ao Baptist Arogo Mundang (ABAM) organised a ‘Bikers Rally’ today. A total of 55 bikers took part in the rally which started from Mokokchung town via Wokha, Tseminyu, and culminated at Old MLA hostel junction, Kohima. It was informed that there were more bikers, who also took part, but sadly they couldn’t reach the destination point as their motorcycles developed mechanical problems.
Speaking at culmination programme, Rev. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger, convener NBCC CEC - Core Committee, made an ardent call to all sections of the Naga society to come together and put a concerted effort to cleanse the dirty election system.
Rev. Atsongchanger, who is also the executive secretary of ABAM, was optimistic that the clean election campaign is possible, and if so, he said “Nagaland will enter into a history of transformation, and towards a better future.”
“If all of us choose for a better Nagaland, then clean election is possible. Let us be positive,” he urged adding that “clean election is not a very difficult task if the people have the desire to bring about a meaningful change in the Naga society.”
Making his observation known that the Nagas are moving backward, he felt that the CEC is “God’s calling for a change in Nagaland.”
“Clean election campaign is a movement for every citizen of Nagaland. Unless we come together, our dreams will not be fulfilled. Let us prove it and tell our children that Nagaland is a good place to live in,” he said.
Rev. Atsongchanger also made it clear that “The CEC is not against any political party or support of any political party.” He reiterated that NBCC’s slogan for clean election is for all the people across the world and a fight to cleanse the dirty election practices and further against corruption, nepotism, etc.
Member of NBCC’s CEC - Core Committee, Colo Mero, a sturdy campaigner of clean election, regretted that Nagaland is becoming one of the most corrupted states in the country.
While observing that politics in the State has become a mere election politics, he blamed the Naga people as a whole for what we have become.
“Corruption is everywhere. The existence of dirty politics and the dirty election system, this is why everything is going wrong,” Mero said.
“To cleanse the electoral politics in Nagaland, it won’t do away by asking the voters to be clean, but the time has also come to search for clean candidates who can assure us not to buy votes,” Mero said.
For the success of a clean election movement, Mero also stressed the need for the Nagas to rise above in exhibiting their honesty.
“The level of honesty among the Nagas has come down to the level where we only appreciate candidates who helps or favours us monetarily and materially. Let us change this level of honesty in our times,” he beseeched.
Hailing Mizoram for the success it carried out on the clean election movement, Mero sought the support and cooperation of the entire Naga populace in the effort to bring about a historic change which has become so much desirable by the people.
“We are on campaign which is going to change our lives, society and our land,” he said, adding “Until and unless Nagaland changes, we will walk the talk, write the talk and live the talk on clean election. Together, let us overcome this struggle,” he affirmed.
The programme at Kohima was chaired by Rev. Vikuo Rhi, co-convener, NBCC CEC-CC, while Kedoneituo Yhome, pastor of Phezoucha Baptist Church, pronounced the invocation. The closing prayer was pronounced by Taitoshi Longkumer, associate pastor youth of Kohima Ao Baptist Arogo.
It was informed that the bikers will stay for the night and will depart back home tomorrow.
Earlier in the day, bikers made a stopover in Wokha town where a brief programme was organised amidst heavy downpour.
Rev. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger, Executive Secretary ABAM and convener of clean election campaign, speaking on “Why clean election campaign?” stated that one needs to retrospect our past mistakes and look forward for a bright feature of the society.
He encouraged the people not to sell their votes for money to anybody. While reminding that we are capable of doing many things for a change, he called upon everyone to join hands together for our better future.
A short speech was also delivered by Rev. Nyanchumo Lotha, Executive Secretary LBES. He exhorted the gathering to live as free man with a vision to change the society by coming together in the fear of the Lord as Christians. He also blessed the young riders to spread the message of clean election in every corner of the State.
Jenibemo Kithan, LBES youth secretary, moderated the programme, while the invocation was said by Khonbemo P Kikon, associate pastor of WTBC and the benediction was said by Chiben Humtsoe, associate pastor of Wokha Yan Baptist Church. The programme concluded with the chanting of clean election slogan “We support clean election.”
