Increasing voter turnout shows people's trust in EC growing stronger: BJP Chief Nitin Nabin
New Delhi (PTI): BJP president Nitin Nabin on Sunday acknowledged the Election Commission's effort in conducting fair and transparent polls, asserting that the increasing voter turnout in many states is a clear indication that people's trust in both the voting process and the poll panel has become stronger.
Addressing young voters at an event organised here at the BJP headquarters to mark National Voters' Day, Nabin highlighted the role of voters, especially the youth, in a democracy and said that India can achieve its goal of becoming a developed country by 2047 only by their collective efforts.
Political parties may be different, ideas and thinking may be different, but for the youth, the theme must be 'nation first and collective effort', he said.
"There was a time when, after casting a vote in a ballot box, there used to be apprehension about where that box had gone, but today the country has entered the electronic and digital era," the BJP chief said.
"Today, when we cast our vote, it immediately becomes clear to whom the vote has been cast. This entire process, in one way or another, reflects the complete transparency of the Election Commission," he added.
Nabin said that over the past several years, the Election Commission has brought many "positive changes" and added "new dimensions" to its functioning, which, he said, has further strengthened the democratic process.
"It is truly remarkable to imagine that nearly 95 crore voters in the country exercise their franchise at the same time, a number greater than the combined population of many countries. Conducting elections for such a vast electorate and maintaining complete transparency is in itself a major achievement," the BJP chief said.
The increasing voter turnout in many states today is a clear indication that people's trust in both the voting process and the Election Commission has continued to grow stronger, he added.
Nabin's remarks were made on a day when opposition parties questioned the integrity of the Election Commission, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge alleging that the "right to vote is being bulldozed" under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
Terming the Election Commission's celebration of National Voters' Day as a "tragic farce", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the poll panel of bulldozing the opposition and destroying the foundation of the country's democracy on "behalf of the BJP."
Nabin said that the Election Commission has played an important role in providing the country with a "clean government and ensuring the right to vote for every citizen". He mentioned that the commission carries out necessary tasks, including the purification of electoral rolls.
Today, every voter is confident that the vote they cast goes to the "right person and the right party," becoming a "means for the development of the state and the country," once they press the button in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), Nabin added.
He praised the commission for using phrases like "My India, my vote" and the tagline "Citizen at the heart of Indian democracy."
The BJP chief emphasised that becoming a voter is not just a right, but also instils a sense of responsibility and accountability because where there are rights, there are also duties attached.
"All of us are the people who will witness 'Viksit Bharat' in 2047, and the Viksit Bharat of 2047 will not be built by the efforts of a single individual, but by the collective efforts of every young person," he said.
According to Nabin, today's voters will shape the future of India, and every vote cast today lays the foundation for the nation's progress.
He encouraged the youth to adopt a forward-thinking attitude based on the word "we," asserting that "we" are our country, our family, and our state, and that the "wealth of our nation belongs to all of us."
Nabin advised that people should enter politics with a "positive mindset" and the intention of bringing about constructive changes in the system.
However, he noted that entering politics is not the only way to serve the nation, adding that, "a person can serve the country and contribute to its progress by making an outstanding contribution in whichever field or discipline they are engaged in."
Addressing the event, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal exhorted the young voters to exercise their franchise "fairly in the best interest of the country, without fear".
"Your single vote is so decisive. It's the decider of India's destiny. Today, you are getting the right to vote. Governments will be formed with your vote. Your vote is so valuable," the minister said.
"In 2014, the Indian voters cast a decisive vote, and Narendra Modi became the prime minister of this country. India's destiny is moving forward at a rapid pace. That's why your vote is so important," he added.
BJP National General Secretary Arun Singh, the party's Delhi unit president Virendra Sachdeva, and several other leaders were present at the event.
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Hemant Karkare dying at hands of Kasab ‘Karmic Justice’: Shefali Vaidya on Col. Purohit’s promotion
Shefali Vaidya’s ‘karmic justice’ remark on Hemant Karkare sparks controversy.
Columnist Shefali Vaidya said that the death of former ATS chief Hemant Karkare was “almost karmic justice,” while expressing support for the promotion of Shrikant Purohit.
In the post, she wrote, “Col Purohit to be made Brigadier! This is the least Indian Army could do to restore the honour of an officer who was wrongly accused, framed on false charges, tortured beyond imagination and lost many years of his life thanks to anti-national, evil Congress.”
She further stated, “the way Maharashtra ATS Hemant Karkare died at the hands of Kasab was almost karmic justice, for having tortured Col Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya and others in the fake Hindu terror case. Ditto for disgraced cop Parambir Singh!”
Her post came after reports that Colonel Purohit, who was acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case last year, has been approved for promotion to Brigadier.
Defence sources cited by Indian Express had indicated that less than a month after his retirement was put on hold by the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), he has been approved for promotion to Brigadier.
According to the report, he will now continue in service for at least two more years, up to the age of 56, which is the retirement age for Brigadiers, compared to 54 for Colonels.
Purohit had reportedly approached the AFT, stating that the 17-year-long trial had affected his career progression and denied him the opportunity to be considered for promotions.
Though he was granted bail in 2017, he remained under a Discipline and Vigilance (DV) ban, which was lifted in July 2020. Due to this, his promotion to the rank of Colonel was reportedly withheld in 2021.
The controversy around remarks on Karkare is not new.
Earlier, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee had highlighted instances of social media users allegedly making derogatory comments about the slain officer.
Hemant Karkare, a 1982-batch IPS officer, served as the chief of the Mumbai ATS and led the investigation into the 2008 Malegaon blasts. He was killed in action on November 26, 2008, during the 2008 Mumbai attacks while responding to terrorist activity near Cama Hospital. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra in 2009.
According to the Mumbai Police chargesheet, Karkare, along with Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte and Inspector Vijay Salaskar, was killed in an exchange of fire with Pakistani terrorists, including Ajmal Amir Kasab and Abu Ismail Khan.
The officers were ambushed near Rang Bhavan Lane while moving towards Cama Hospital.
According to a report by India Today, BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur had earlier claimed that Karkare died as a result of a “curse,” while Maharashtra Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar had alleged that an “RSS-linked cop” was responsible for Karkare’s death, citing claims from a book by S.M. Mushrif.
