Sundays Are Sacred for Christians: Parties, NGOs Urge EC to Reschedule Counting for Mizoram Polls – News18

All the main political parties, including the BJP, Congress and the ruling MNF, in Christian-majority Mizoram and civil society organisations on Thursday jointly wrote to the Election Commission, urging it to change the date for the counting of votes of the assembly elections as it is scheduled on December 3, a “sacred” Sunday.

The joint letter was written after five political parties separately appealed to the commission to change the counting date from Sunday which is considered sacred among Christians.

“We the Mizos devote solely to the worship of God on Sunday. No official programmes or businesses are trusted on Sunday in Mizoram,” the letter signed by presidents of all political parties and NGOs said.

The ruling MNF, BJP, Congress, Zoram People’s Movement and the People’s Conference were the five parties which had sent letters to the Election Commission earlier.

The conglomerate of major churches in the state, Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), has also sent a letter to the EC, urging it to change the date of counting.

The EC had on Monday announced the election schedule for five states — Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

Polling to the 40-member Mizoram assembly will be held in a single phase on November 7 and counting of votes for all the five states is scheduled on December 3.

In its letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, the MKHC said that Sundays are sacred for Christians and worship services are held in all towns and villages on that day. It urged that the date for the counting of votes be shifted.

The BJP also appealed to the EC to postpone the date of counting as Sunday is a sacred day for Christians, and the entire day is devoted to church services throughout the state.

The ruling MNF wrote to the EC, urging it to reschedule the date of counting to December 4, which is Monday.

State Congress president Lalsawta said in his letter to the EC that Sunday is a sacred day for the people of Mizoram and no official programmes or businesses are held here on that day.

Urging the EC to respect the sentiments of the Mizo people, he requested it to reschedule the counting of votes to any day between Monday and Friday.

Christians are around 87 per cent of the population of Mizoram, according to the 2011 Census.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)