Violence during national elections, while Congress party wins votes
Bombay (AsiaNews) The Archdiocese of Bombay has launched an appeal to Christians to take an active part in national elections. Meanwhile episodes of violence have erupted during the second stage of elections.
On the Apr. 26 voting day, the date set for 132 electoral colleges in 11 states, 6 persons were killed during election-related clashes.
Political violence in the northeastern state of Bihar always a constant reached its highest level during voting. Violent incidents, fighting, shootings, police retaliations, arrests, ballot rigging and damage to electronic vote registering machines were reported in the region.
Voting turned into deadly conflict at the Chapra electoral college, where Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Laloo Prasad Yadav clashed with Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, R. P. Rudy. Two persons were killed by police during the fighting.
In the absence of federal paramilitary troops, a police officer and magistrate were killed in Jharkhand (formerly part of Bihar). Another four persons, among whom two were police officials, were injured in Bihar this morning during an explosion at a police station and arson attack on one of its off-road vehicles. Meanwhile a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) worker and two others were killed during clashes in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
The official weekly of the Archdiocese of Bombay, The Examiner, reported on voter apathy and election campaign tactics in an editorial written by Fr. Anthony Charangat. In the article the priest accuses politicians of acting irresponsibly and reminds Catholics of the duty to vote according to their conscience and knowledge in order to help improve society. "The incredible (voter) apathy and apparent impossibility to make changes in government have convinced citizens that their votes will have no long-term effects in politics. Hence, their vote has become a good to be traded and sold for money or alcohol. Fostering prejudice against castes, religions, ethic groups or certain language speakers is another unscrupulous way to win votes."
At the same time Fr. Charangat warned faithful: "The Christian Community is known for not participating in Indian politics and civic life. This is so, since we have reacted to political corruption only on an individual level, merely acting as "armchair critics" while complaining about our uselessness as minorities," he wrote. " Even though we are small in number, we have to be active ingredients in improving society."
Early this year, the Indian Bishops' Conference published a set of guidelines for Christian voters, stating that it was an absolute priority to vote for parties seeking to protect the India's secular government status and basic human rights for all citizens, as already guaranteed in the country's Constitution.
From exit polls taken, it appears that the NDA party has taken a slight lead. The Congress Party and its allies seem to have come from behind, by winning a majority of votes in Andhra Pradesh and Western Maharastra.
The election situation has also had an impact on India's economy. Today, upon release of exit poll news, the Bombay Stock Exchange (Sensex) went down by over 220 points (3.7%). "Markets are fearful of what will happen because of the terrifying government proposals that were announced," an analyst at B & K Securities (a brokerage in Bombay) told the Associated Press.
According to surveys taken, no party will win the absolute majority in Parliament. What has caused India's stock marked to fall sharply is the fear that the current agenda to liberalize the economy will lead to an overall slowdown in investment and spending. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), is running in elections with an advantage after the economy has grown by 8% since last year.
But according to a survey conducted by New Delhi Television, the prime minister's party will only likely win 235-255 seats in Parliament, less than the 272 needed to have a majority. It is predicted that the Congress Party and its allies will take 190-210 seats, a considerable increase with respect to the previous elections.
.png)
03/01/2022 14:01
