Agartala: The Christian community in Tripura has expressed disappointment over the date of election for Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) 2021.
In a letter addressed to the State Election Commissioner, Bishop Lumen Monteiro of Agartala Diocese has expressed the concern of the Christian community regarding the date of TTAADC election coinciding with the Easter Sunday. “Scheduling the election on the Universal Festival of Easter, which is a weeklong obligatory observance of faith for all Christians around the world, will not only make the Christian voters unable to participate in the electoral process, it will also hurt the religious sentiments of the Christian community”, reads statement from the Bishop.
The TTAADC is an autonomous district council administering the indigenous tribal dominated areas of Tripura. 68% of the total area of the state falls under the purview of TTAADC, which is mostly covered by hilly forest.
The Letter from Bishop Monteiro has appealed to the State Election Commission for rescheduling the date of polling to enable all the people to exercise their voting rights and to be able to fulfil their faith obligations.
A copy of the same letter has been marked to the Chief Election Commissioner, Govt. of India, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Tripura and the Chief Election Officer of TTAADC.
A press statement from the Spokesperson of Agartala Diocese, Father Joseph Pulinthanath, states that the Christian community in the State is disappointed and shocked at the date of the General Elections to TTAADC, announced on March 2.
Easter Sunday, which is the Day of the Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ, falls on 4 April this year.