Election Commission of India must revise Goa Lok Sabha

Election Commission of India must revise Goa Lok Sabha, By Poll dates due to Good Friday, Easter, says Flynn Remedios of GCAF 

The Goa Citizen's Action Forum (GCAF) has requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to change the dates of the Goa Lok Sabha poll as well as the by-poll in Shiroda, Mandrem and Mapusa dates due to the Christian religious festival of Easter, which is preceded by Holy Week, which includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. 

As Christians make up nearly 30 per cent of the voters in Goa, the ECI must seriously consider this request or else we may even look at other legal options, Flynn Remedios of the GCAF said, adding that they are studying other legal options in this regard. 

"We are looking at the options before us and deliberating on what to do. We have consulted several prominent Catholics in Goa and are considering the situation. We will decide in 1-2 days after speaking with the leaders of all political parties in Goa," he said.

For Christians across the world, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence, spent in prayer and contemplation. Christians do not venture out or conduct business on these days.  

Given the fact that Easter - the  biggest festival in the Christian calender falls in 21st April and the elections in Goa are on 23rd April, the GCAF pointed out to the ECI that Catholics all over Goa have expressed their disappointment over the decision. While the dates have been decided by the ECI, most  Catholics in Goa felt that the BJP government at the Centre has done it on purpose to play spoil sport as the dry days, usually imposed 48 hours before the elections would affect the Easter Sunday celebrations, the GCAF pointed out. 

Further, Christians would not involve themselves in campaigning during Holy Week, which is a week before the elections, virtually cutting out a huge section of the population from campaign work. Candidates would be deprived of the Catholic workforce who are normally very active in campaigning. This is not only applicable in Goa, but in other states as well where elections are being held immediately after Easter. It would also hamper the solemnity and religious fervor of Holy Week as candidates would be moving around across the State indulging in loud campaigning, said Flynn Remedios of the GCAF.