Church body appeals to vote for secularism -ToI

TNN | Mar 19, 2014, 12.34 AM IST
PANAJI: Expressing concern that "corporate communal forces" have infiltrated the secular spirit of the state, the Church in Goa has called upon citizens to fulfill their duty to vote and "revitalize a truly secular republic".

The rather strongly worded appeal by church body, the council for social justice and peace (CSJP) comes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls scheduled in Goa for April 12.

In addition to the reference to corporate communal forces infiltrating the secular spirit of Goa, the appeal also states that "it is convincingly apparent that the election campaign, even in these first stages, supported by the media, is geared towards the promotion of one individual as if this is a presidential election". This "one individual" has not been named but the reference does seem a bit too pointed.

The church has lamented that the secular democratic system is subtly corrupted when senior intelligence and defence personnel, on retirement, join selected political parties professing them to be the only nationalist parties. "The winability factor underlines the choice of candidates in every political party, despite lofty claims that there is urgent need for a transformation of the political system. The tendency towards corruption is manifest in the failure of successive governments to establish people-serving institutions like the Lokayukta, information and minority commissions," the appeal reads.

The church stresses that the minorities of India- whether ethnic, linguistic, religious or cultural- have an equal right in the development of the nation. "However, they need to be protected and assisted to work in the mainstream, with freedom, and without discrimination and fear," the appeal states.

The church has lamented that in various parts of the country, the indigenous people who are the undisputed owners of the land, water and forests are being blatantly denied their rights and are, in fact, marginalized and deprived, in favour of communal-corporate interests.

Pointing out that 'models of good governance' presented to society are a myth, the church has said that those in power and those able to manipulate power like the industrialists are the cause of various types of destructions like indiscriminate mining, unregulated constructions and polluting industries.

"Now is the time, for us the citizens of India to focus on the socio-political reality of our nation and rising above our personal and local interests, install a government that serves specially the common people," the appeal states.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Church-body-appeals-to-vote-for-secularism/articleshow/32256195.cms

Church body urges Goans to vote for secular India

March 19, 2014

TEAM HERALD

 

PANJIM: Calling on every citizen to vote to revitalize a Secular Republic, the Council of Social Justice and Peace has asked Goans to elect a government that gives all from any caste, religion, or social status equal opportunity of livelihood, freedom of expression as well as a transparent, accountable and participatory governance.

“It is convincingly apparent that the ‘Election Campaign’ even in these first stages, supported by the media, is geared towards the promotion of one individual as if this is a Presidential Election,” Council of Social Justice and Peace has argued that in the above context, some ‘Models of Good Governance’ “presented to society are a myth as they are ridden with lack of transparency, accountability and participatory equality as exposed in various reports.”

Criticizing that that the “winnability factor underlines the choice of candidates in every political party, despite lofty claims” the church body stressed that there was urgent need for transformation of the political system.

“The tendency towards corruption is manifest in the failure of successive Governments to establish people-serving institutions/commissions like the Lokayukta, Information and Minority Commissions,” said the CSJP, pointing out that the minorities “whether ethnic, linguistic, religious or cultural have an equal right in the development of the nation.”

However, the council argued that minorities need to be protected and assisted to work in the mainstream, with “freedom, and without discrimination and fear.” The issue of indigenous people being deprived of their land was also pointed out by CSJP saying that they “who are the undisputed owners of the land, water and forests are being blatantly denied their rights and are, in fact, marginalised and deprived, in favour of communal-corporate interests.”

The CSJP, lamenting that in the past few years the ‘secular spirit’ has been infiltrated by corporate communal forces visible even in Goa and that unfortunately a large number of citizens are lured by materialism, consumerism and greed for power and wealth resulting in a decline in upholding moral and ethical values which are the intrinsic root of human life. It also argued that the secular democratic system was subtly corrupted when senior intelligence and defence personnel, on retirement, join selected political parties professing them to be the only nationalist parties.

“From the peaks of the Himalayas to the waters of the Arabian Sea, the degradation of environment and ecology is sinful, more so because those in power and those able to manipulate power like the industrialists are the cause of various types of destructions like indiscriminate mining, unregulated constructions and polluting industries,” the CSJP said while ending the message to the electorate in Goa.

Meanwhile, BJP Vice President and NRI Commissioner, Dr Wilfred Mesquita reacting to the statement of the Church asking people to vote for secular candidates said, "The Church is correct. People should vote for secular candidates not pseudo secular candidates. In fact Goa will prove to be most secular when in future, it votes for a secular Hindu and South Goa and a secular Catholic in North Goa."

 http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Main%20Page%20News/Church-body-urges-Goans-to-vote-for-secular-India/86695.html

Poll campaign looks like a presidential election: CSJP, Goa

PANAJI, March 18, 2014

The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), a Goa Church affiliated body, in a pre-election advisory, on Tuesday observed that it is convincingly apparent that the election campaign even in these early stages, supported by the media, is geared towards the promotion of one individual as if this is a Presidential election.

Without naming any political parties, it gave a call for citizens to exercise their Constitutional rights and duties to vote and to revitalize a truly secular republic in the country in the forthcoming parliamentary election.

In the context of Goa, the CSJP advisory said, "Committed to vote in this election, scheduled for Saturday, April 12, we must reflect on the prevailing socio-political situation in the country and act to build a truly vibrant, secular, democratic republic of the People of India."

It lamented that in the past few years the 'secular spirit' has been infiltrated by corporate communal forces visible even in Goa, and lamented that a very large number of citizens are lured by materialism, consumerism and greed for power and wealth resulting in a decline in upholding moral and ethical values which are the intrinsic root of human life.

It also cautioned that that the secular democratic system is subtly corrupted when Senior Intelligence and Defence Personnel, on retirement, join selected political parties professing them to be the only nationalist parties.

Without specifically mentioning Goa, the CSJP noted that the tendency towards corruption is manifest in the failure of successive governments to establish people-serving institutions like the Lokayukta, Information and Minority Commission.

Asserting that the minorities of India whether ethnic, linguistic, religious or cultural have an equal right in the development of the nation, the CSJP said that they need to be protected and assisted to work in the mainstream, with freedom, and without discrimination and fear.

It said that in various parts of the country, the local people who are the undisputed owners of the land, water and forests are being blatantly denied their rights and are, in fact, marginalised and deprived, in favour of communal-corporate interests.

In that context, it pointed out that "some 'Models of Good Governance' presented to society turned out to be a myth as they are ridden with lack of transparency, accountability and participatory equality as exposed in various reports.

The advisory assumes significance as Goa's population comprises nearly 26 per cent of Catholics.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/poll-campaign-looks-like-a-presidential-election-csjp-goa/article5801321.ece