ATSUM seeks rescheduling of voting dates
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, January 10 2022:
Strongly urging the state's election office to reschedule the date of polling for hill assembly constituencies to any other convenient date which does not fall on Sunday, All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) said that the decision to vote on Sunday in some hill districts of the state may avoid many from participating in the election.
The students' body said that state election notification which scheduled the date of poll on February 27, falls on Sunday and is a matter of grave concern for the tribal people and Christian community of the state.
Information and Publicity secretary of ATSUM Khaiminlen Doungel said that tribals constitute about 43 per cent of the state's population and are predominantly Christian and for Christians, Sunday is a day that is holy and sacred and is also a day for rest and worship.
He continued that the election commission lacks the susceptibility and the ability to appreciate the spiritual values, beliefs and practices of the Christian community of the state and such apathy towards the religious sentiment of the Christian community is in fact antagonistic.
He also said that the state's election office must try to ensure participation of all eligible citizens to exercise their adult franchise, but, its decision will instead prevent many from participating in the election.
Therefore, it urged the election commission to reschedule the date of polling of the hill assembly constituencies to any other convenient date which does not fall on Sunday.