Some of the constituencies in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will go for Lok Sabha on April 18. Incidentally this day is an important day in the Christian calendar as they celebrate Maundy Thursday all over the world. On the background of this, bishops from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have written to the Election Commission of India urging them to given some other alternate date for polling.
As reported by englishnews.thegoan.net, In his letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, His Grace Archbishop Machado has said that being Maundy Thursday, Christians will be participating in the religious services which is being held in the churches and religious institutions all over in preparation for Good Friday and Easter Sunday, thus making it difficult for them to take part in voting. “It may be brought to your kind attention that many of our schools are designated as polling stations, which is located within the Church premises. As such it may cause great obstacles to logistics that might hinder the smooth process of polling in those places,” the archbishop has emphasized. Copies of the letter have been sent to the Prime Minister and election commissioners of all states, where polling be held on April 18.
As reported by daijiworld.com, In the letter written by bishop Antony Pappusamy, the archbishop of Madurai and president of The Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council, it says, “It will be difficult for the people of Christian faith to vote on April 18 as it is Maundy Thursday and also for the fact that this day is one of the days of the holy week, which is revered most by the Christians.
