Ex-MP,AMCU appeal to review polling date
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 18 2022: Ex-MP/MLA BD Behring submitted a letter to the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manipur requesting to 're-arrange' the date of polling for nine hill assembly constituencies from the previously set date of February 27, which falls on Sunday.

Pointing out that huge majority of the population in the nine assembly constituencies are Christians, Behring in his letter addressed to CEO Manipur, pointed out for the people residing in Saikul, Kangpokpi, Saitu, Tipairnukh, Thanlon, Henglep, Churachandpur, Saikot and Singhat, which are reserved for scheduled tribes are predominately Christians and fixing the poll date on Sunday is against the religious sentiment of the community.

"We should uphold the principles of the Indian Constitution which clearly state India as "Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic'", he said.

It will be more appropriate to modify the earlier order and include the nine hilly assembly constituencies in the Second Phase which is scheduled on March 3 (Thursday), he suggested and maintained that the re-arrangement of polling date will serve in the interest of every citizens in Manipur and also preserve the sanctity of the Indian Constitution.

On Tuesday, All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) also urged the Election Commission to reschedule the first phase of Assembly polls on February 27 as the day being a Sunday is the prayer day of the community.

Expressing its resentment, the AMCO requested the Election Commission to conduct the polling of the first phase on any day of the week other than Sundays.

"We earnestly appeal to the Election Commission to reschedule the first phase polling date to show solidarity and respect to the religious sentiment of the Christians," it said in a statement.

The AMCO said if the first phase of polling was held on Sunday (February 27) it would hurt the religious sentiment of the Christians.

"Sunday is a sacred day, the Lord's Day, a day set aside to worship and revere God.

But fixing a polling date on Sunday has led the Christian community in Manipur to question if the Government is deliberately attempting to desacralize its religious significance.

Christian population constitute 41.29 per cent of Manipur's three million people, of which 41.39 per cent are Hindu and 8.40 per cent people belong to Muslim community.

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