Nagaland churches reassert need for clean election

Kohima: Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) has expressed serious concern over the existing political scenario in the state.

Addressing a gathering, NJCF president, Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho, said, “Bad politics has entered into our land”. He also asserted that every citizen is responsible in the decision-making process.

Keyho, who is also general secretary of Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), urged that Nagas “must decide to put the god-factor in our (political) system” and only then will it “make a difference in the Naga society”.

The NBCC-Clean Election Campaign (CEC) and NJCF jointly organised a “Prayer and Consultation for the 17th Lok Sabha Election with candidates and political parties” on Tuesday at the NBCC Platinum Hall, Kohima.

Addressing the gathering, Rev. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger, convenor CEC, NBCC, stated that the Parliamentary election scheduled on April 11 is a “tough fight” which is battle “for survival “seeking to preserve the “Identity as Nagas and as Christians”.

Atsongchanger added, saying “Present MPs (Members of Parliament) are misleading this nation in many ways” and even “bringing change in our basic rights” by challenging the secular nature of the state. He, therefore, said that the NBCC and the NJCF are making efforts to “insert honesty and clean election” principles in the lives of people.

He further mentioned that Nagaland being a Christian majority state has a high “level of corruption” and so urges all citizens to observe a “clean election” and be “honest” in one’s dealings.

Dr. M.M. Thromwa Konyak, the independent candidate to the Parliamentary election, in his address reaffirmed his candidature “with a view to establish corruption-free state, provide employment” and create “good governance, fruitful inter-state relations, proper implementation of all schemes”.

Konyak was however the only contesting candidate who attended the session. The session concluded with a mass prayer for the upcoming polls.