AMCO objects to re-poll on Sunday
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 01 2012:
The All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) strongly objected to the decision of Election Commission of India to conduct re-poll on March 4, which is Sunday.
In a joint statement, President of AMCO Rev.S.Prim Vaiphei, Vice President of AMCO Rev.Dr.N Nipamacha, Chancellor of Catholic Church, Archbishop House Fr TS Dominic and General Secretary of MBC Rev.Dr..WKonghar contended that re-poll on Sunday would hamper in the worship services of the Churches.
The polling stations where re-poll are to be conducted are in Christian dominated areas and Sunday being the day of worship for them, it will hamper the worship services of the Church, the joint statement pointed out.
Recalling that a similar case in 1999, when polling date was fixed on a Sunday (Oct.
3, 1999) for Outer Parliamentary election, the joint statement noted that a case was filed by Rev.Hokey Kaikho, the then General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention, against the judgement and order dated 17.9.1999 of the Chief Election Commissioner of India (Writ Appeal No.168) and thus the date for polling was rescheduled from 24/9/99 and 1/10/99 to 15/9/99 and 3/10/99 .
"The AMCO members feel that re-poll has been ordered on a Sunday because the Election Commissioner of India ignores the feeling and rights of the Christians", the joint statement observed, while appealing to ECI not to repeat such acts in future.