ZCOs calls for free and fair voting
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 02 2019:
The Zeliangrong Civil Organizations (Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front and Zeliangrong Students' Union) has appealed to all the Zeliangrong voters in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency to exercise their rights in a free and fair manner without acceding to any kind of pressure from any quarter in the upcoming 17th Lok Sabha Election for on April 11 (Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency).
A press release issued by the media and publicity cell of the ZCOs conveyed that the electorates should be aware that the most powerful weapon given to the citizens by the country is the power to exercise their right to choose a right candidate.
As such, the electorate should not allow any force to interfere or influence or dictate them while taking a decision and exercising their democratic right in choosing a candidate of their choice who will represent them, it added.
Alleging that there are reports that functionaries/cadres belonging to NSCN (IM) are strongly campaigning for NPF candidate by holding meetings in some villages, ZCO continued that it was also learned that the said meetings were not given cooperation nor well attended by the Zeliangrong people which shows that the Zeliangrong people cannot be fooled every time.
The democratic right of the people should not be undermined or suppressed by way of force or intimidation as people will not tolerate such intimidation any longer, it stated, adding that leaving the people alone and letting them exercise their wisdom in choosing the right candidate during election will bring more understanding and peace in the region rather than intimidating or dictating the people by the armed outfit.
ZCO further continued that the practice of the NSCN (IM) of summoning the village chiefs/chairmen whenever any election, be it Assembly or Parliamentary or even Autonomous District Council, is to be held, should be stopped once and for all and instead the interest and sentiment of the people should be honoured so as to bring peace, progress and development in the region.
It further advised the NSCN (IM) to refrain from trying to capture the polling booth or intimidate the electorate in the interior areas and urged it to instead, give opportunity to the people to exercise their democratic right in a free and fair manner.
The reputation of the Naga People's Front (NPF) may be irreparably damaged and the party's political principle and ideology will be diluted it will lose its credibility if the functionaries/cadres of an armed outfit like NSCN (IM) are allowed to campaign without understanding the interest and sentiments of the electorate, ZCO reasoned.
The electorate of the present generation should not be undermined for they may not remain submissive to the pressure of the armed outfit.
Therefore, it would be wise and better to fight the election based on principles and ideologies, it added.
The ZCO alleged that in every election, the NSCN (IM) has been playing the Naga political issue using the Naga card and has been indulging in electoral politics which has misguided the electorate.
The Naga electorate should be cautious and make sure that the democratic rights of the citizens are not hijacked for unrealistic reason, ZCO added.
The association then cautioned that any kind of violent activities or untoward incident related to the coming election in Zeliangrong areas during or after the election, will be considered as the handiwork of the political party and social organizations whosoever work with the armed outfit.
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