As the election process for the 18th Lok Sabha concludes, attention turns to the issues arising from the campaign trails, particularly the perceived involvement of the Nagaland Baptist Churches’ Council (NBCC) in politics. This perspective focuses on the “religion card” played by Congress Nagaland and NBCC during the campaign.
While the Clean Election Movement initiated by NBCC is commendable, the movement’s convener, Dr. Valli Naleo, has made statements suggesting a political bias. In an article titled “Survival of Democracy is at Stake,” Dr. Naleo mirrored sentiments previously expressed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, indicating an ideological clash rather than a simple political contest. This stance appears to align NBCC with Congress, portraying BJP as anti-Christian and Congress as secular, thereby attempting to influence voters on religious grounds.
Instances such as Dr. Naleo’s critique of BJP’s policies and the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, coupled with the Nagaland Congress candidate’s letter to the Ao community, underscore this political inclination. These actions have led to accusations of NBCC and Congress misleading the electorate to vote based on religious biases.
The Chief Election Office of Nagaland even pulled up the Congress candidate for violating the Model Code of Conduct by appealing for votes based on religion. Similarly, NBCC’s efforts to dissuade votes against BJP on religious grounds could be seen as a violation of election rules.
Historical context shows that religious institutions involving themselves in politics can lead to division and animosity. Dr. Naleo’s comments about Hindu majoritarianism and Hindutva reflect a misunderstanding of India’s cultural diversity and constitutional safeguards, such as Article 371(A), which protects Nagaland’s unique social and religious practices.
The article concludes that while advocating for clean elections is crucial, NBCC’s involvement in politics could undermine this goal. A focus on practical electoral reforms, such as cleaning the voter rolls and preventing proxy voting, is suggested as a more effective approach.
By: Dr. Chumben Murry,
People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) consensus candidate for Lok Sabha elections in Nagaland 2024.