The Zeliangrong Baptist Churches Council of Northeast India (ZBCC NEI) representing the Zeliangrong Christian Community of Manipur on Saturday appealed to the chief election commissioner of India and chief electoral officer Manipur to reschedule the polling date of the first phase for the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election which is fixed on February 27.
The ZBCC NEI said that almost half of the total population of Manipur is Christian and for Christians, Sunday is a sacred day, a day set aside to worship and revere God.
Conducting an election on Sunday will deprive the Christian community of Manipur, the right to profess their religion which is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution of India, stated general secretary of ZBCC NEI reverend Adui in a statement.
On the other hand, many Christians will be attending church services on Sunday despite the polling schedule and keeping the polling date on Sunday will deprive a large number of Christian electors from voting, he added.
He further said that as a secular country, the state has an obligation to respect the sentiment of all religions, to treat all religions impartially and prohibits discrimination based on religion.
He also mentioned that in a similar situation, the ECI on January 17 has rescheduled the polling date for General Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Punjab from February 14 to February 20 in view of movement of a large number of devotees from Punjab to Varanasi for participation in Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Jayanti celebrations which is to be observed on February 16.
He earnestly requested to shift the polling date scheduled on Sunday to any other day in the interest of Christian community of Manipur.
