“India is a secular country where every religion in the past has peacefully coexisted but this kind of move to undermine and to desacralize the religious beliefs of the minorities by fixing a polling date on our worship day is totally uncalled for”, says TBCA.
TFM Desk
Tangkhul Baptist Churches Association (TBCA) has express its dismay over the first phase polling date (February 27) of Manipur Assembly Elections. TBCA said that the polling date falls on Sunday and it has hurt the religious sentiment of the minorities who are Christians.
In a press note, TBCA, on behalf of the Tangkhul Baptist believers said the people were pleased to note the coming of the Assembly Election as they “will once again get the opportunity to elect their representatives to the Manipur Government”.
The association also pointed out that it is the bounden duty of every believers to exercise their franchises “truthfully in the fear of the Lord”. TBCA urged every believers to elect leaders who fear the Lord and one who has a heart to serve the people. We should never elect our representatives at the expense of our God-given right to franchise for money.
However, TBCA said it was “disheartening that the polling date of the first phase (Feb 27, 2022) falls on Sunday and it has hurt the religious sentiment of the minorities”.
“Sunday is a sacred day, the Lord’s Day, a day set aside to worship and revere God. But fixing a polling day on Sunday has led the Christian community in Manipur to consider that the Government is deliberately attempting to desacralize its religious significance”, said TBCA.
Furthermore, the TBCA expressed apprehension that a large number of voters may refrain themselves from exercising their franchises as the polling day falls on Sunday thus, purposely robbing off the people their right to universal franchise.
“Therefore, the TBCA is constrained to express our resentment as polling day can be done in any of the week days excluding Sundays. We earnestly appeal the State Government to reschedule the first phase polling date to show solidarity and respect to the religious beliefs of the minorities”, said the association.
“India is a secular country where every religion in the past has peacefully coexisted but this kind of move to undermine and to desacralize the religious beliefs of the minorities by fixing a polling date on our worship day is totally uncalled for”, added TBCA.
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