ECI urged to reschedule polling day
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 29 2022:
On behalf of the Zeliangrong
Christian community in
the state, Zeliangrong Baptist
Churches' Council North East
India (ZBCCNEI) has appealed
to the Chief Election Commissioner
of India and the Manipur
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to
reschedule the day of polling
for the first phase election to
the 12th Manipur Legislative
Assembly on February 27, to
any day other than Sunday.
In a letter addressed to ECI
and CEO, Council general secretary
Rev Adui Newme stated
that almost half of the state's
total population are Christians
and for them Sunday is a sacred
day, a day set aside for worship
and revere God.
As such holding election
on Sunday will deprive the
Christian community right to
profess their religion which is
a Fundamental Right guaranteed
under the Constitution
of India.
On the other hand,
many Christians will be attending
church service on Sunday
despite the election schedule
and keeping the polling day
on Sunday will deprive a large
number of Christian electors
from voting.
Further, as a secular country,
the state has an obligation
to respect the sentiment of all
religions, treat all religions impartially
and prohibit discrimination
based on religion, it
said.
The Council also pointed
out that the ECI, in a similar
situation rescheduled the polling
date for elections to the
Legislative Assembly for Punjab
from February 14 to February
20 in view of movement of a
large number of devotees from
Punjab to Varanasi for participation
of Sri Guru Ravidasji
Jayanti celebration which falls
on February 16.
As such, the Council reiterated
its appeal to the ECI and
CEO to reschedule the polling
day/date of the first phase to
any day other than Sunday in
the interest of the Christian
community of Manipur and
for the ends of justice.