PANAJI: The Church in Goa in an election advisory ‘Vote Wisely! Vote Smartly!’ has urged its faithful to vote judiciously to “preserve our freedom and the secular values enshrined in our Constitution” and “reject the terror of pseudo- nationalism” for the upcoming

elections and by-elections.

Stating that “clean and decisive governance does not require oppression,

and terror tactics”, the advisory adds that “critics, opponents, dissenters and pro-poor activists being jailed using the law of sedition which was the tool of erstwhile colonial powers is an equally serious matter for consideration”.

The advisory issued by the social work wing of the Church, the Council for Social Justice and peace on Tuesday went on to add that the unprecedented press conference by Senior most judges of the highest court, curtailing of autonomy of educational and other public institutions, capture of media, cow vigilantism, paranoia about love jihad and other forms of cultural extremism need to be assessed.

Referring to the “evil” of “blatant engineering of defections in violation of the people’s mandate”, the advisory has stated that those who deceive and betray people’s trust should “have no scope in democracy”.

It has urged people to give “corrupt defectors and opportunists the due electoral response”.