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“The
entire world knows the situation in Kandhmal, greatly disturbed by the
continuing communal violence since 2008.
Till today more than 20,000 people are still living in the relief
camps and thousands have moved out of Kandhmal to safer places.
Christians are still in the grip of fear of attack.
They would not like to return to their villages as the situation
is still very tense and their safety in villages is still a great
concern. Calling for
elections at this point and time in Kandhmal would be disastrous,”
said The Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary, Church of North
India. He
further said “that the Church of North India feels more concerned
about the district as it comes under its Diocese of Phulbani. The Church of North India membership strongly believes in
democracy and adult franchise is its solemn duty. But given the situation, if elections are held as per
schedule many of the CNI members will not be able to exercise their
right to vote.” In
a letter issued to Mr. N. Gopalaswami, Chief Election Commissioner, The
Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, mentioned that “the elections will be seen
as preplanned vote bank gimmick by the perpetrators of the violence to
gain political mileage at the cost of lives of the innocent tribal
Christians”. Further
while calling the Chief Election Commissioner, the CNI General
Secretary, said, to consider the petition to put off the polls in
Kandhmal until the situation is normal and persecuted Christians are
able to exercise their right to vote. The
Church of North India is a largest Protestant Church spread across the
northern states of India, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, having
nearly 15 lakh membership |
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