HARSH WORDS ...... but we need to call a spade a spade and crack the whip before things get totally out of hand.
In a democracy even the Holy Cows should be questioned, Election Commission is one such Autonomous Body that commands immense Public Confidence and if this body too has started to OVERLOOK KEY ISSUES THAT CAN TURN OUR DEMOCRACY INTO A FARCE ...... then God Save this Country and its Cherished Democracy.
Why do we say this ?????? CHETNA and we the activists associated with it have been working on MAKING EACH VOTE COUNT. Be that in Voter Awareness Programmes like 'Delhi Come Out and Vote' to increase Voter Turnout or to set right the Flaws in the Voter Registration and Vote Counting Systems.
Two foremost reasons to instill confidence in the Electorate are ....
1. Ensure Genuine Vote is not Nullified by a Bogus Vote or even outnumbered
2. Ensure Every Vote remains a Secret
You may remember my mail of August 2013 'Is your Vote Really Secret' ...... CHETNA followed that up with a set of RTI's to find out how proof of Address is ascertained and a PIL seeking Abolition of Booth Wise Declaration of Results.
Bogus Vote Risks..... how it affects the City
- Bogus Vote nullifies a Genuine Vote
- Creates unsavoury vote banks
- Encourages Criminals to enter Politics
- Makes it easier to capture Booths by installing Goons as Booth Agents
- Genuine Stakeholders voice drowned in bogus numbers
- Policy and Planning gets skewed
- Welfare funds usurped by immigrants and Ghost citizens
- Safe Haven for Criminals who flee their home state to avoid Law (ie UBER Cab Driver)
Advantages of Abolishing Booth Wise Counting of Votes
1. Local Netas will no longer be able to buy Bulk Votes
2. Political Parties will no longer try to divide Society on Caste, Community, Religious Lines
3. Political Parties will no longer indulge in vindictive activities like diverting funds to their Vote Banks
4. Political Parties will no longer indulge in vindictive activities like demolishing JJ Clusters who did not vote for the winning party
5. The control of local Dons will diminish
6. Criminals will no longer get Party Tickets
7. Restore confidence of Citizens who do not Vote
We expected the Election Commission to be Proactive in setting right these two Anomalies once apprised of the Facts that they should have known in the first place.
INSTEAD Election Commission Babus have made us Run in Circles to Obtain information about Bogus Voters and dragging their Feet in stopping Booth Wise Counting of Votes ..... NOW YOU KNOW WHY SUCH A HARSH LANGUAGE USED.
Please look up the Attachments.
Regards,
Anil Sood and Rajiv Kakria
