Jayaprakash Narayan a retired Bureaucrat and a Social activist has expressed his disappointment at our honourable PM for seeking votes in the name of caste, while denigrating the opposition, and in other places for taking the shelter under religion, and at some other place, region, etc.. These tactics for seeking votes are too low for the stature of PM of India, which in past no PM resorted to this type of canvassing .
EC somehow is unable to take cognisance of such utterances by big-shots. Even though after SC’s intervention, EC took some very mild action against two top politicians of UP. But there is still no news of ECI taking cognisance of sting operation of about 20 present and former MPs, as telecast by a newly launched Hindi News Channel on 3/4/19, despite official complaints made through email to ECI
ECI seems to have lost its thread as the utterances of the leaders of various political parties, seem to have drowned the constitutional power of EC. Right from our PM down to an ordinary political worker, the personal vilification has reached its crescendo. Yogi’s comments earned him a mouth gag, for three days, Mayawati for two days. Sexist remarks, racial slurs stoking regional feelings have been the order of the day. Whether 33 percent quota for women will be discussed or not, unfortunately, women are being discussed in an uncouth manner by the likes of Azamkhan. All 4 politicians (Yogi, Mayawati, Menaka,&Azam) have shocked us with their statements.
The EC which rose to the levels of the fiercely independent and intrepid institution under Mr. Seshan has now been reduced to merely issuing routine instructions. Thankfully ECI “woke up to its powers” to borrow the SC ‘s phrase. UP CM Yogi has called the Indian Army as "Modi Sena”, referred to Muslims as “green virus” and bragged if they have Ali, we have Bajrangbali” BSP Chief appealed to the Muslims to vote for SP-BSP and not allow Congress to split their votes. Azam khan referred to “khaki underwear” to emphasise to Jayaprada’s allegiance to RSS. While EC acted against all the above, though mildly, it found nothing wrong with PM’s “majority, minority” comment in the context of Rahul contesting from Wayanad, and his impassioned plea to first time voters to vote for the Pulwama martyrs or for that matter seeking votes in the name caste,(BC Card) , etc.
As a constitutional body entrusted with the task of conducting a free and fair election and it must outgrow its awe of PM and stop it’s the selective and differential treatment of leaders. It must consider all leaders impartially and without bias.
If Mr. Arora needs a lesson, he should look at the history of Seshan, another retired IAS, who raised the profile of the EC and put the fear of the lord, into the toughest politicians. Not a bulldog, but still tough as nails, was JM Lyngdoh who knew how to straighten the mean-minded politicians.
All of us have a vital role to ensure that the debates, however, acrimonious, be centered on the ideologies and manifestos but not on one’s shape, size, caste, creed, race, and religion
EC somehow is unable to take cognisance of such utterances by big-shots. Even though after SC’s intervention, EC took some very mild action against two top politicians of UP. But there is still no news of ECI taking cognisance of sting operation of about 20 present and former MPs, as telecast by a newly launched Hindi News Channel on 3/4/19, despite official complaints made through email to ECI
ECI seems to have lost its thread as the utterances of the leaders of various political parties, seem to have drowned the constitutional power of EC. Right from our PM down to an ordinary political worker, the personal vilification has reached its crescendo. Yogi’s comments earned him a mouth gag, for three days, Mayawati for two days. Sexist remarks, racial slurs stoking regional feelings have been the order of the day. Whether 33 percent quota for women will be discussed or not, unfortunately, women are being discussed in an uncouth manner by the likes of Azamkhan. All 4 politicians (Yogi, Mayawati, Menaka,&Azam) have shocked us with their statements.
The EC which rose to the levels of the fiercely independent and intrepid institution under Mr. Seshan has now been reduced to merely issuing routine instructions. Thankfully ECI “woke up to its powers” to borrow the SC ‘s phrase. UP CM Yogi has called the Indian Army as "Modi Sena”, referred to Muslims as “green virus” and bragged if they have Ali, we have Bajrangbali” BSP Chief appealed to the Muslims to vote for SP-BSP and not allow Congress to split their votes. Azam khan referred to “khaki underwear” to emphasise to Jayaprada’s allegiance to RSS. While EC acted against all the above, though mildly, it found nothing wrong with PM’s “majority, minority” comment in the context of Rahul contesting from Wayanad, and his impassioned plea to first time voters to vote for the Pulwama martyrs or for that matter seeking votes in the name caste,(BC Card) , etc.
As a constitutional body entrusted with the task of conducting a free and fair election and it must outgrow its awe of PM and stop it’s the selective and differential treatment of leaders. It must consider all leaders impartially and without bias.
If Mr. Arora needs a lesson, he should look at the history of Seshan, another retired IAS, who raised the profile of the EC and put the fear of the lord, into the toughest politicians. Not a bulldog, but still tough as nails, was JM Lyngdoh who knew how to straighten the mean-minded politicians.
All of us have a vital role to ensure that the debates, however, acrimonious, be centered on the ideologies and manifestos but not on one’s shape, size, caste, creed, race, and religion
