[caption id="attachment_242571" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
Rev. Beau, of the PBCA addresses a 'clean election' programme on April 5, in Longleng.[/caption]
Dimapur, April 6 (EMN): Various programmes urging the electorate to vote ethically are being conducted in various parts of the state. A mass rally urging citizens to vote clean was held in Longleng district, on April 5, the IPR informed on Saturday. The program was organized by the Phom Baptist Church Association (PBCA), the updates stated.
The convenor of the clean election campaign, Rev. Beau, no surname given, was stated to have said that the campaign was a movement initiated by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council to ‘bring complete change in the election system in the state of Nagaland.’
“It is not organized to target against any political parties or candidates but to bring big transformation in the election system for peace and prosperity of the state by electing a right leader to lead the Nagas in the right direction,” the IPR stated of the church leaders’ speech. He informed that the PBCA and the churches ‘have no hidden agendas either to support or go against any political parties and candidates.’
Rev. Beau said ‘our outward activities will be clean when our inner thoughts and ways are pure... we must clean our kitchen first before cleaning our society.’
Asserting that transformation of the society requires ‘consolidated efforts of the people,’ he appealed to the gathering to step forward to actively participate in the ‘clean election campaign’ for a bright and prosperous Nagaland.
According to the Holy Scriptures, the IPR stated of his speech, ‘Only (through) true love, peace unity and forgiveness we can change our state.’
Further, the church leader pointed out that the clean election campaign was God’s mission: Voting for money and jobs is wrong. Politics is not about influencing something with money power but to provide “good governance with better roads, health care, education and all-round development of the community,” the IPR reported of the speech.
Beau has urged the people to stand for the truth and fear not one except God. He urged them to cast their votes ‘for the true leader to lead our people for complete transformation of Naga society,’ the IPR reported.
The program culminated with mass prayer for peace. Further, a demonstration session in the use of electronic voting machines and the voter’s verifiable paper audit trail was conducted during the programme. This was conducted by the district election division of Longleng. Leaflets stating ‘clean election’ were also distributed to the people, the IPR added.
Peren
A similar event, this time a signature campaign, was conducted in Peren, organised by the district’s election division in collaboration with the Peren Students’ Union. The programme was conducted in the town’s square on April 6, the IPR informed.
A ‘slogan competition’ was conducted as part of the event. Peidolungle, a class-XII student, and Katenamga, a class X student, both of government higher secondary school; and Ingenlung, a class IX student of All Saints Higher Secondary School bagged the first, second and third prizes, in that order.
The district election officer of Peren Sarita Yadav gave away the prizes to the winners, the IPR stated. Another segment to the programme, a signature campaign, was led by Yadav, the IPR informed.
Also, among other programmes that formed part of the campaign was a demonstration on the use of electronic voting machines, the IPR added.
The Tuensang election division has directed administrative officers in the district to issue directives to village council chairmen and the gaon burah in their respective jurisdiction for wide publicity about establishing the identity of voters before they vote.
The establishment was referring to the directives of the Election Commission to voters to produce identity documents for establishing their identity before casting their votes, the IPR stated.
Also, the IPR stated, the president of the Pastors’ Union of Tuensang Town was requested to inform pastors in Tuensang district to ‘announce the public notice’ in their respective church on April 7, Sunday, accordingly.
In another event, the deputy commissioner of the district, Mohammad Ali Shihab conducted a meeting with law and order agencies in his office chamber on April 6. According to the IPR he “briefed about law and order in and around
Tuensang during the polling day.” The officer asked the agencies to “give ample security and duty in those vulnerable polling stations and video broadcasting in sensitive polling areas.” Further, he called upon the various security agencies to work together ‘as one to secure a free and fair elections,’ the IPR wrote.
The North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) has launched a ‘clean election campaign.’ The institute launched the campaign in Dimapur on April 5, a press release from the institution stated on Saturday.
The event was organised in collaboration with another civic group Peace Channel, the press release stated.
During the programme, students spoke about their experiences and of corrupt practices by candidates, party campaigners, and the people in general during elections. They talked about the ‘negative impacts’ of such behaviour on individuals, families, communities; future development and on the culture of the society and nation, the press release stated.
The press release read: “Critically analyzing the power of the youth in the state and the nation they said we need to stand firm on our rights to vote and choose the right and clean candidate who will stand for the welfare and development of our people.”
After discussions about the ‘far-reaching negative impacts’ of wrong practices, all the students and faculty members of NEISSR and Peace Channel “decided to stand for free and fair election by saying no to proxy vote and no to money.”
Speaking at the launch, the principal of NEISSR Dr. Fr. CP Anto stated that the 2011 census that 50% of youths are below 25 years and 65% under 35 years. ‘Therefore, youths play an important role in making positive change in the society,’ the press release stated of his speech.
“He exhorted the youth to initiate change in the communities, state as well the country by recommitting themselves to be the change makers. He also said that through this campaign, citizens will be educated on their rights and duties and they will vote right and clean candidates who will eliminate fear, division, corruption, poor governance and social instability in the state,” the updates stated.
The institution’s principal appreciated the active involvement of churches, civil society, and social media for playing a vital role in spreading awareness and taking decisions to stand for ‘clean’ elections. “He appreciated the initiative of the NBCC initiating the campaign and bringing awakening in the life of youth and faithful in Nagaland,” the press release added.
