news details |
|
|
| Private member's bill on compulsory voting in LS | | | Agencies
NEW DELHI, Apr 24: A private member's bill proposing compulsory voting today found mixed response in Lok Sabha with a number of members supporting the measure while some others terming the idea as "impractical".
Janardhan Singh 'Sigriwal' (BJP), while moving the 'Compulsory Voting Bill, 2014', said such a law will make Indian democracy more participatory, curb black money spent on mobilsing voters by candidates and push Maoists and other extremists towards joining the mainstream politics.
He said it was not a good sign for democracy that despite the Election Commission spending over Rs 18,000 crore on 2014 general elections, over 34 per cent of registered voters did not vote.
Sigriwal said "e-voting" facility and mobile booths should be set up to ensure that people have the ease of voting.
Voters from weaker sections are still not allowed to vote at many places and a law for mandatory voting will end such a practice.
"It will help the government connect Maoists, separatists and other extremists with the mainstream. They presently give a call for boycotting elections...If voting becomes mandatory, they will have a stake in government and they would then play a role in running it," he said.
But his party colleague Satyapal Singh said a serious thought should go into whether such a law will succeed in a country like India.
"Can we fine 10 crore people (for failing to vote)... there is a need to have informed voters," he said.
A former Mumbai Police Commissioner, Singh also questioned the need to have students' union polls saying students should concentrate on studies than politics.
He said there is also a need to differentiate between the vote of an intellectual and a gentleman and a criminal.
B Mahtab (BJD) said he is oppsed to the bill as it has various flaws. He said the bill provides for incentives such as job in the central government and admission in institution of higher learning for people who have voted for 15 years without a break.
"If an 18-year-old votes for 15 years, he would be 33 when he would be entitled for a job or an admission. It is faulty," he pointed out.
He said the penalities like a fine of Rs 500 and forfeiture of ration card will hurt the poor and not the rich.
"Those jailed for two days as part of the provisions will have to be produced before courts as part of judicial process. Can the courts handle such a surge of people? Can EC or the district electoral officer lodge so many cases," he questioned.
Members like Jagdambika Pal, Hukum Deo Narayan Yadav, P P Chaudhury (all BJP) supported the bill.
Yadav said poor workers who survive on daily wages fail to earn if they spend time in voting. "At least give them minimum daily wage so that they do not have to worry," he said.
The discussion could not be concluded today. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
