Divine intervention for upholding constitutional rights
This election, church took the initiative to make voters aware of their rights, free & fair polls
“Politics and religion are inseparable,” said John Henry Okullu, a former bishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya who was a fierce critique of the government. In fact, he believed that to see these two separately is a sign of one’s intellectual arrogance. This is true for every country and state. As Meghalaya went to polls on February 27 (Monday), it becomes necessary to look into the role of church in the state, especially at a time when the incumbent government is reeling from several charges of corruption.
The Shillong All Faiths Forum recently urged all voters to shun the use of money. It also exhorted upon all eligible citizens to exercise their franchise on February 27 and choose god-fearing leaders, besides asking them to avoid abuse, fight and violence.
The use of money power in Meghalaya politics is a known fact. Prominent parties, or parties in power, which possess immense wealth, most of which have been usurped from public funds, blatantly use money to buy votes of the poor and illeterate electorate. There were also reports of violence in some pockets. The clashes between workers of two political parties in Phulbari, an attack and harassment of the family of an MLA from Ri Bhoi by alleged NPP goons and sporadic incidents show the violent streak in the 2023 elections in Meghalaya. Of the three northeastern states where elections are taking place, Tripura has been the most violent so far.
Amid such events, “the church should always take the side of justice and truth and it should stand by the weak and the marginalised”, said Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh, KAM Meghalaya’s candidate from North Shillong and a former reverend of the Khasi-Jaintia Presbyterian Church.
(Also read: Church can’t be silent spectator of scams & govt’s corruption)
In fact, he feels that church members who are committed to the core tenets of their faith — which is love, equality and fraternity — must enter in the electoral challenge.
W Thabah, a resident of Shillong said there has been a lot of commentary on election in the pulpits, especially by Presbyterian pastors. “They mentioned about voting a clean and corruption-free government… there’s that saying in The Seven Deadly Sins inside The Ten Commandments that the wages of sin is death. The Pastors emphasised over the subject of greed and the perils of greed.”
The Baptist Church of Tura played an active role before the election. In fact, it was the first time that members of the church denomination came out on the streets to preach free and fair election.
“We have been quiet for 50 years but it was time to speak out. So, we organised the youths and chose city thoroughfares to talk about free and fair elections and about rejecting money power. We started the campaigns last September. Our members went to villagss too,” said Rev. FD Sangma, who spearheaded the campaigns.
The Baptist Church members also intimated locality heads to keep vigil.
The Catholic denomination too did its part in making the faithful understand the necessity of choosing genuine representatives. According to Auxiliary Bishop of Tura Jose Chirackal, “Catholic Church exhorts all its eligible members to exercise franchise, and also, advocate free and fair elections”.
“One should not fall into the temptations of money and wine,” he alluded to the nefarious practices by political parties.
“Each one should vote according his conscience and according to the merit of the candidate. It encourages its lay members to play active role in electoral politics and also stand for elections. Just and honest persons who are willing to serve the society and the nation and safeguard the constitutional values are looked up to,” he added.
On whether church members should participate in electoral politics, the bishop asserted that by the church law, Catholic bishops, priests and religious leaders are not to play active role in electoral politics or publicly support a political party. “Only general directions are given. The rest voters are the best to judge.”
Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh’s message was also similar, to vote wisely and diligently.
While each denomination of church is doing its bit to make the election constitutionally strong, the awareness process will always be more effective if everyone comes together to spread the message, Sangma said.
In fact, the involvement of church leaders should be more than just spreading awareness. They should be more vocal against corrupt political parties or public representatives. The independent candidates who ensure connecting with the grassroots despite their financial struggle should get church support. In doing so, the church will not be supporting a political party but an ideology that an independent candidate is propagating. Besides the church, it is also the duty of other religious groups to play an active role in making people aware of their rights.
(File photo by MM)
