Thanks , Shri Kiran Rijiju
What for ?
Government in talks with Election Commission to overhaul poll laws : Rijiju / TNN / 06 Oct 2022
Extract :
A day after the Election Commission released the proposed proforma for political parties to detail their electoral promises and disclose how they plan to fund them, law minister Kiren Rijiju told TOI on Wednesday that the government is in discussion with the poll watchdog and considering giving legislative backing to “major electoral reforms” through amendments in the Representation of the People Act (RP Act).
The law minister said the “changing time and situation” demands overhaul of some electoral laws that are lacking in ensuring adequate transparency and accountability.
“I am already having elaborate discussions with the EC to study major changes in the RP Act and other election rules. The Centre will take steps after due consultation for major electoral reforms which are required as per the new changing time and situation,” Rijiju said when asked if the election watchdog had consulted the government before floating recent proposals.
Dear Shri Rijijuji,
I suggested :
PIPPPA ( Prevention of Irresponsible Promises by Political Parties Act ) through my following email :
Freezing of Freebies ……………………………..[ 29 Aug 2022 ]
My logic behind suggesting such a law was obvious
Over past many decades, most Political Parties have , flagrantly violated the Model Code of Conduct , with impunity
Reason is simple > Such “ violations “ were not held as “ crimes “, punishable under any LAW
Not having any power to PUNISH , whenever such “ violations “ were brought to the notice of Election Commission, all that EC could do is to ADVISE – ADMONISH –REPRIMAND the violating party – which went about merrily to commit further violations !
It was a mockery of our democracy !
Proof :
As expected, within 4 days of EC letter to Political Parties re FREEBIES , most parties have come out strongly against the EC proposal , as read from today’s Eco Times :
Ø Poll Promises: Opposition alleges EC overreach, seeks all-party meet / ET / 05 Oct 2022
Extract :
Ø The proposal has generated strong political reaction on the larger debate on ‘freebies’ vis a vis ‘welfare schemes’ even as the ruling BJP did not comment on the matter.
Ø JDU, a former ally of BJP, has demanded that an all-party meeting should be called by the EC even as it said the matter was outside the jurisdiction of the poll panel.
“The mandate of the EC is to conduct free and fair elections in the country,” senior JDU leader KC Tyagi told ET. “This letter indicates that the EC is encroaching into the rights and duties of other constitutional authorities.”
Ø RJD leader Manoj Jha also pitched the EC move against the narrative on freebies.
“I am surprised by this debate over freebies and time and again I have maintained that it shouldn’t be called freebie. We are a welfare state as per our constitution. If the EC is ready to go beyond their mandate and comment on the constitution, democracy becomes a farce,” he told ET.
Ø While the ruling BJP has so far maintained a studied silence on the subject, opposition parties alleged that the EC move has been prompted by the party’s discomfort with ‘welfare’ models of other parties.
Ø “EC is not the final authority, and their decisions can be challenged in the court. If it goes ahead, parties will take legal recourse,” he added. Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray also blamed it on BJP and said it is another way to target the opposition.
Ø However, this is first in the world where ECI will meddle into the functioning of political parties' commitments to its people,” senior Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi told ET. “This is exactly how lines have blurred between administration and governance by BJP by giving unchecked powers to institutions to target opposition,” she alleged.
Dear Shri Rijiju :
That request by opposition parties for an “ All Party “ meeting, is only to re-iterate / reaffirm their opposition to EC proposal
Emergence of any CONSENSUS is unlikely .
You may still want to accede , call such a meeting and attend , knowing fully in advance, its likely outcome
Much the same way Mahatma Gandhiji went and attended the “ Round Table Conference “ in London, called by the then British Government , knowing fully well its likely outcome
And at the end of such “ All Party “ meeting, you could tell the opposition :
“ Let us decide democratically .
We will call a special session of the Parliament for introducing “ PIPPPA “ and give each political party, 4 hours to put forward its views, before taking a vote . All will get ample opportunity to debate . We will broadcast this live on all TV channels
We will even introduce an APP using which, citizen will be able to air their own views on the subject, as explained at :
Ø Virtual Parliament : a COVID bye-product ? ……………………[ 02 June 2020 ]
Extract :
Just before the voting starts on any Bill , enable the Members of Parliament to receive “ Instructions ( really ,
feedback from citizen who voted for him / her ) “, as to how voters want him to vote ( “for “ or “against “
the bill ) , as outlined at :
Ø VotersWill ………………………………….[
- which “ Will “ take following shape :
: Now how about modifying UMANG in following way :
· Links users’ Mobile phones with their respective MPs / MLAs
· Flash on the voters’ mobiles , each proposed resolution requiring voting by MP / MLA
· Enables each Voter to “ direct / instruct “ his / her MP , to vote “ for “ or “ against “
· Aggregates “ FOR / AGAINST “ votes polled by UMANG from all voters,
# MP ( or MLA ) wise
# Party-wise
# Overall ( for all Members put together )
· Publish these results on the web sites of Lok Sabha / Parties / MPs and MLAs
Irrespective of weather the majority of the voters desired “ FOR “ or “ AGAINST “ any given resolution, voters
do not expect a MP / MLA to go against the whip of the party to which he / she belongs
But at least this mechanism would provide the MPs / MLAs / Parties , a QUANTIFIED MEASURE of the wishes
of the voters and become “ sensitive “ to their wishes
And the voters will get an opportunity to question their elected representatives !
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 06 Oct 2022
Related Readings :
Ø 2013 ( 6 ) :
Ø Needed - your Declaration of Intent - NOW ! ……[ 19 Sept 2013 ]
Ø BJP Poll Manifesto ……………………………………………………
Ø Selling Dreams ?......................
Ø Issues Vs Non – Issues …………………………………………….[ 18 Nov 2013 ]
Ø Perennial Poll Promises…………………………………………….. [ 15 Dec 2013 ]
Ø Congressmen are Confused ! …………………………………… [ 31 Dec 2013 ]
Ø 2014 ( 7 ) :
Ø Robinhood of Delhi ?.......................
Ø An Unprecedented Opportunity…………………………………. [ 04 Jan 2014 ]
Ø Selling Rainbows ?.............................
Ø Poll Promises ? Tall Promises ? …………………………………..[ 23 Feb 2014 ]
Ø If / Then……………………………………………………………………
Ø Bribing The Voters……………………………………………………….. [ 28 Apr 2014 ]
Ø What Are the Chances ?.....................
Ø 2016 ( 2 ) :
Ø Advantage , Incumbent ?...................
Ø A Freebie that cannot be Faulted ? ………………………………[ 25 Dec 2016 ]
Ø 2017 ( 5 ) :
Ø Model Code of ( Hypocrite ) Conduct ? …………………………[ 07 Jan 2017 ]
Ø We are not bribing the Voters !......................
Ø Time to ditch Model Code of Conduct ?.....................
Ø " Election Reforms " Summarized…………………………………. [ 18 Aug 2017 ]
Ø Poll Reforms : Time for a Consensus…………………………….. [ 21 Aug 2017 ]
Ø 2018 ( 2 ) :
Ø Citizen’s Charter of Demand ……………………………………………[ 29 Oct 2018 ]
Ø Divide Quota ? To rule Raj ? …………………………………………….[ 03 Dec 2018 ]
Ø 2019 ( 1 ) :
Ø Simple Summary of Sankalp …………………………………………….[ 10 Apr 2019 ]
Ø 2020 ( 1 ) :
Ø Poll Promise to create 10 lakh jobs……………………………….. [ 21 Oct 2020 ]
Ø 2022 ( 2 ) :
Ø What is price of your Vote ? …………………………………………….[ 27 Jan 2022 ]
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