SHILLONG, MAR 28: The North East India Regional Bishops’ Council (NEIRBC) has called upon all the Catholic faithful in the region including Meghalaya to exercise their franchise in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, slated to be held on April 11.
In a letter issued recently, Archbishop Dominic Jala, sbd who is the president of the NEIRBC said, “In a few weeks, starting from April 11, our country goes to the polls… at this juncture we call upon all our faithful to exercise their franchise.”
Asserting that voting at every election is a sacred obligation and a right of every citizen above the age of 18, Jala said, “At the same time we want to insist that voting for money or material gain (selling one’s vote), proxy voting, exerting force, using fraud or wrongful inducement for voting for a particular candidate etc are acts contrary to Christian values and principles. We call upon our Parish Priests to impress on our people this important obligation which is our contribution to building up our country to where we want it to be.”
Acknowledging the progress made by the nation since Independence, Jala however said at the same time some concerns – the growing gap between the rich and the poor, many unorganized and casual labourers are barely able to survive with what they earn – cannot be ignored.
With farmers and those in agricultural section are under serious stress, the NEIRBC president further said ethics is losing primacy and the guiding principle of society.
“Economics seem to be the driving force behind many decisions. Corruption at all levels becomes the order of the day. India is a spiritual Nation and yet God is slowly pushed to the periphery. We are called to rise above the many dividing walls that divide us especially religions, cultures, castes,” Jala stated.
“We urge every community to spend time in prayer for our country so that we may have leaders who will make our country a place where truth, justice and peace will flourish,” he added.
Meanwhile, the NEIRBC further called upon leaders who will be elected to contribute to a government that will promote communal harmony and a spirit of national integration through inter-religious dialogue and understanding.
It also expects leaders to work for an economy that seeks to help the poor and under privileged, protecting their dignity, working for their uplift and enabling them to play a role in nation building, promote probity in public life and thus seek to root out corruption at all levels, ensure safe environment for all people, particularly women and children, safeguard the rights of tribals over land, water and forests, take particular care of Dalits and ensure that they are not discriminated against, granting equal rights to all Dalits and to take steps to protect the environment, preserving the riches of nature for future generations.
By Our Reporter
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