SHILLONG: The senior administrative secretary of the Presbyterian Church of India (PCI), Rev. G.S Lyttan, has urged people to exercise caution and to avoid being led astray by factors such as money power and intimidation when casting their votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In a statement issued here, Lyttan warned voters against “being purchased for votes through clandestine and covert monetary distribution” and not allow themselves to be “intimidated, coerced or threatened to vote for a particular candidate and political party.”
“It is our privilege and responsibility to cast our vote without fear, without intimidation, without enticement. God help and guide us all,” he added.
Encouraging people to vote with prudence, he said that the electorate send representatives to make laws and policies and to ensure that development, progress, economic and social security, equitable justice are the portions of all, irrespective of gender, caste, religion, culture, ethnicity and region.
On the other hand, Lyttan also voiced his concerns on the growing cases of persecution in the country.
He pointed to the annual report of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) for the year 2017 titled ‘Hate and Targeted Violence against Christians in India’, which stated, “The year 2017 has been one of the most traumatic for the Christian community in India since the mass targeted violence of the Kandhamal pogrom in 2007 and 2008.”
The Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFIRLC) documented at least 351 cases of violence in 2017, which is based on voluntary reporting and civil society investigations.
“Most cases go unreported either because the victim is terrified or the police, especially in the northern states, just turn a blind eye and refuse to record the mandatory first information report,” the report mentioned.
While releasing the report, Rev. Vijayesh Lal, EFI’s General Secretary said, “It is distressing to see even private worship being attacked by Hindu right-wing activists violating the privacy and sanctity of an individual or a family and trampling upon their Constitutional rights.”
Lal said that the instances of attacks on churches on Sundays and other important days of worship such as Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter and Christmas have increased.
“It is noted with much sadness that the law enforcement agencies are increasingly being used by non-state actors to stop and disrupt worship in churches and in homes,” he said.
It may be mentioned that in recent years, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and the Evangelical Fellowship of India Council of Churches (EFICC) founded the National United Christian Forum (NUCF) of which the PCI is also an active member.
Lyttan highlighted some of the aims and objectives of NUCF as to dispel the prejudices created against the Christians and other minority communities and to engage in the promotion of better relationships among the communities.
The NUCF also seeks to promote the prophetic engagement of the Church in the socio-political economic life of the nation and to respond to specific instances of atrocities against the Christian community and other minority communities.
