Independent candidate for Nagaland Lok Sabha Constituency, Hayithung Bill Lotha has declared support for Nagaland Baptist Church Coucil’s (NBCC) Clean Election Movement (CEM) and its call for 152 hours chain of prayer for the upcoming election.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Lotha said that every election, there is “blatant tribalism/clanism, range/village ism, muscle power, electoral coup/booth capturing, free flow of alcohol/drugs abuse, vote buying and money power at play,” which totally negates the basic core principles of Christianity.” He therefore welcomed CEM ‘s appeal to all citizens to “Vote consciously by fearing God, and exercising God given ability to choose right from wrong”.

Reacting to Janata Dal (United)’s criticism of the NBCC-CEM’s statement, Hayithung Lotha said that “it is very childish, immature, shameful and morally wrong on the part of JD (U) or for that matter any other political party to openly criticise the NBCC which is the apex Christian body in our State whom lakhs of Christians in Nagaland revere with awe and respect.”

On JD(U)’s allegation on reverends, pastors and prominent church workers tacitly or even openly supporting various candidates of political parties during the State General Election 2023, Lotha said that “in a constitutional democracy every citizen of India has the right to support, campaign and vote in favour of any particular candidate belonging to any political party.” Giving the example of “a mature and deep rooted democracy” such as United States of America where the President can induct reverends/pastors as their Ecclesiastical/Spiritual Advisors, he mentioned Rev. Billy Graham had served as official Advisor under three US Presidential Administration.

The Independent candidate also appealed all “to prayerfully be a part of the NBCC call for 152 hrs Chain of Prayer for the ensuing 2024 Parliamentary Lok Sabha Elections.”