A week before Meghalaya goes to the polls to elect its two representatives in the lower house of Parliament, the Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders Forum (KJCLF) has urged the public to vote on April 19 responsibly and with a clear conscience.
In a release, the KJCLF said that it is the responsibility of every eligible voter to participate in the electoral process in order to determine “the future of our land and nation through the governments that are formed and entrusted to serve the people.”
Without naming any persons or parties, the release said that Meghalayans had rejected those “who represent fundamentalism, intolerance, violence and other prejudices” at last year’s state Assembly election. “However, it is sad to see that individuals who clamour for money, prestige and power have degraded themselves to the category of undervalued slaves when they offer themselves or are bought and purchased by political slave traders who barter with people and forked manifestos as commodities in the marketplace.”
Politicians and governments have become kleptocratic in their conduct and corruption, crime, violence and vindictiveness abound, it added. “Prejudicial laws and ordinances are enacted, constitutional rights and privileges are deprived, intolerance and hatred are allowed to go unchecked,” KJCLF secretary Rev EH Kharkongor wrote.
The forum exhorts all citizens to responsibly exercise their franchise on polling day and to vote with a clear conscience, with courage “and with the full knowledge that we dare to hope for something new and unusually refreshing.”
The KJCLF condemned acts of violence and hate and called for a people’s representative who will hold true to his or her pledge to uphold the Constitution of India and in service to the people will contribute to a government which will be transparently free from corruption and administrative arrogance but also to promote fraternal relationships among all citizens for emerging and developing together in peace and harmony.
