Church-legislators for ‘Clean Election’

The pledge was jointly signed by Nagaland chief minister, T.R. Zeliang on behalf of the legislators and Nagaland Baptist Church Council general secretary, Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho, and Nagaland Joint Christian Forum vice-president, Rev. Dr. N. Paphino, on behalf of the churches as part of a colloquium on Clean Election organised by Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC).

“The legislators, churches and citizens affirm that all of us have an investment in the future of the state of Nagaland and that our shared future must flourish without any obstacles,” the signatories stated. 

They also affirmed that in the spirit of true Christian repentance, “we realize the serious malpractices surrounding the conduct of state election are the major cause of most of the problems that we are facing today.”

In light of this, they committed to lead and take responsibility of putting in place a fair and honest electoral practice, and pledged to support and abide by the ‘clean election campaign’.

Speaking at the colloquium, Nagaland chief minister, T.R. Zeliang called upon the Church leaders to play an active role to check corrupt practices during elections and also suggested that the Church ensure that indiscriminate distribution of cash by candidates and their agents were prohibited.

Zeliang said Church should participate in social policing and enforcing Prohibition Act, including substance abuse by voters during elections.

He also called for a restriction on Church workers from participating in any election-related activity, including dedicatory prayer services, adding that the pulpit should instead be used more for disseminating the message of clean, ethical and informed voting. 

Zeliang urged the Church to educate its members that both giving and accepting bribes, inducements and gratifications in any form was not only against the ethics of Christianity, but also a violation of laws. The chief minister regretted that though the government had adopted stringent measures in a bid to curb electoral malpractices, they still abound.

Welcoming the initiative of Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) in ensuring that polls were conducted in a fair manner, he said it was timely and assured that his government too was prepared to leave no stone unturned to ensure that elections were clean.

In his address, NBCC general secretary, Rev. Dr. Zelhou Keyho said ‘Clean Election Campaign’ (CEC) was an uphill battle, but a worthy fight and reiterated that Church was not playing any politics by trying to usher in a free and fair election in a system that had gone awry. 

Keyho regretted that selfishness and greediness had taken over common good and that there was no sense of fear or guilt among a vast section of the society today. Referring to the Biblical twins Esau and Jacob, Cain and Abel, he said there were two choices before everyone – either to begin the journey of courage to bring change like Jacob or remain arrogant and not own responsibility like Cain.

He said Nagas always talked of backdoor appointments, but remained silent to the way public representatives were elected, and which had become the leading cause for frustrations, disappointments and evils.  He said whoever were at the helm of power must take the responsibility to set the system right, “learn to listen not only with ears but also with intellect, heart and eyes”.

Keyho also appealed to Church members not to consider complaints of people as unnecessary as they were speaking their minds because the system had failed them and political leaders had not kept their promises. He further urged Church members to guard their faith and not sell their will to political parties that sought to destroy their faith, besides by not getting deceived that “development will come with any political party”. He added that by remaining truthful and honest no one could stop development.

Speaking on the occasion, Hekani Jakhalu said Nagaland was infested with corruption and the disrespect people had for Nagas was “our” own creation. She said a survey found that Rs 580 crore was spent in 2008 elections, while the expenses jumped Rs 930 crore in 2013.

Jakhalu said once a candidate won an election, he would recover the entire expenditure spent on campaigning, while at the same time make more money and save it for the next elections “at the cost of our roads, power, education, health care system, infrastructure and livelihood”.

Under such circumstances, she said the youngsters were bound to get frustrated, while many thought that they had the right to ask money from politicians without shame and guilt. There was a need to break this vicious circle, she stressed.

Jakhalu reminded everyone that the 60 MLAs were chosen out of a population of 20 lakh and that they were expected to serve the people with honesty and integrity.

In his brief address, Dr. Chotisuh Sazo, MLA, appealed to Church leaders to ensure that Church officials in villages did not get involved in electoral malpractices. He also urged them to focus more on CEC. 

Rev. Keviyiekielie Linyü, Tokheho Yepthomi, Neiba Kronu, G Kaito Aye, CM Chang, Er. Levi Rengma and Zhaleo Rio also spoke at the meeting. Host of legislators, Church leaders from various Churches and denominations and representatives from civil society also attended the meeting. 

Chief Minister TR Zeliang has appealed to Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) to participate actively and share its mind on the Naga political issue, if invited to the December 4 consultative at RCEMPA, Jotsoma.

Speaking at the colloquium, Zeliang said NSCN (I-M) and Naga Hoho had boycotted the general election in 1998 demanding “solution and not election”. However, former Congress Chief Minister Dr SC Jamir was not consulted and the Congress went ahead with the polls, he added.

Zeliang said once Election Commission of India (ECI) announced an election, it could not backtrack. However, if the situation was not conclusive, there was a provision that it could be postponed, he said and cited the instance of Gujarat where election was held six months after ECI announcement due to riots. He said, if people desired, everything was possible.

Stating that Church, political parties and NGOs’ involvement was imminent, Zeliang said “if Church leaders are serious about solution, this is the right time as the situation today was different from earlier years”.

According to the Zeliang, Nagas had three advantages now. “First, one might say anything outside the House, however the government does not have any opposition inside the Assembly,” he said. The second was that all Naga nationalist groups, except NSCN (K), were under ceasefire agreements, he added.

Further, the third advantage was that, unlike in the past, the three neighbouring States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur were now prepared to listen to on the Naga political issue, if consulted by the Union government, Zeliang pointed out.

He said in the past Chief Ministers of Assam and Manipur did not want to discuss the issue at all, “but today, the situation is different considering the fact that Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur were all under the BJP government”.

Therefore, Zeliang said, if Naga people really wanted a solution, this was an opportune time sent by God and urged them to think seriously whether “we want solution or election”. 

In his brief address, former Speaker Dr. Chotisuh Sazo, MLA said since six NNPGs had recently joined the dialogue process, it would not be wise to put pressure on them to come to a final solution. He said even if elections were held, peace talks would continue and any popular government would support the negotiation process.