Sitharaman refutes false claims that 'One Nation One Election' will be implemented in next polls
Chennai, Apr 5 (PTI): Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday dismissed the false propaganda surrounding the 'One Nation, One Election' concept, clarifying that it will not be implemented in the upcoming elections.
Speaking at an event near here, she noted that around Rs 1 lakh crore was spent during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and such a massive expenditure could be saved through simultaneous elections.
"If simultaneous elections are held for electing the members of Parliament and Assembly, about 1.5 per cent growth will be added to the country's GDP. In value terms, Rs 4.50 lakh crore will get added to the economy. This is a black and white example of One Nation One Election' concept", she said.
Sitharaman accused certain parties of "spreading a false campaign" on the 'One Nation One Election' initiative, blindly opposing it.
She clarified that simultaneous polls are planned to take place only after 2034 and the groundwork is being laid now for the then President to give his assent.
"This concept was widely discussed on several occasions. It was not something introduced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This' One Nation One Election' was in existence till the 1960s. Instead of blindly opposing it, if it has been supported considering its benefit, the 'One Nation One Election' concept will make the country move forward," the union minister remarked.
Sitharaman claimed that the late DMK Patriarch M Karunanidhi had supported the 'One Nation One Election' concept, but his son and the current Chief Minister (M K Stalin) is not following in his father's footsteps and instead opposing it.
Sitharaman reiterated that the 'One Nation One Election' concept was not someone's "pet" project, but has been planned considering the welfare of the country.
In her about 30 minute speech, the Union Minister clarified that simultaneous polls refers to conduct of Parliamentary and Assembly polls and not local body elections.
"There has been talk that simultaneous polls referring to elections will be conducted even at that Municipality level. It is not. It only pertains to the conduct of Parliamentary and Assembly polls together" she said.
She recalled that in the 1961-1970s three elections were conducted within 10 years in five states, including Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar and West Bengal.
Again, in the 1971 to 1980s, four elections were conducted in more than 14 States within 10 years.
Drumming up support for ONOE, Sitharaman said frequent conduct of Parliamentary and Assembly polls disrupts public welfare administration and affects developmental activities when the Model Code of Conduct is enforced.
"For example, even if an ambulance has to pass through a vital road, if the road has been laid but was not inaugurated due to implementation of model code of conduct, in view of elections, it gets affected," she said.
She clarified that she was not opposed to the implementation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) but at the same time, a project gets stalled and one has to wait until the MCC is lifted.
Another important aspect of holding simultaneous polls is that nearly Rs 12,000 crore would be saved to the exchequer, she said and added that such a huge sum can be used for various people welfare schemes instead of spending in elections.
"A Parliamentary Standing Committee comprising MPs from all the parties participated in a discussion on simultaneous polls and recommended it and again in 2018, Niti Ayog suggested conducting One Nation, One Election concept," she said.
In 2019, another all party meeting was convened on holding One Nation, One Election in which out of 19 political parties, 16 of them approved it while CPM, RSP and AIMIM from Hyderabad opposed it.
Sitharaman also referred to deployment of para-military forces as in the 2019 elections, several lakhs of personnel were involved in poll related activities instead of carrying out their regular work while 25 lakh election administrative officials participated in the conduct of the polls in 12 lakh booths.
With the implementation of One Nation, One Election, voter percentage would also increase in states, she added.
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11-year-old dies by suicide after sexual assault in Bareilly; accused arrested
Bareilly (UP) (PTI): A 26-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl, who later died by suicide due to trauma, police said on Wednesday.
The post-mortem report confirmed sexual assault and multiple injuries on the minor's body, including bite marks and nail scratches. The cause of death was found to be hanging, they said.
According to ASP (South) Anshika Verma, the incident came to light on 27 April, when the girl, a Class 8 student, was found hanging at her home in Deoria Abdullaganj village under the Mirganj police station area. Initially, the family reported the death as suicide and was reluctant to pursue police action.
"The autopsy report changed the course of the investigation. It confirmed sexual assault and noted severe physical trauma. The cause of death was confirmed as hanging," Verma said.
A breakthrough in the case came from the statement of the victim's younger sister, who told police that the accused, Zeeshan (26), a resident of the same village, frequently loitered near the minor's school and allegedly gave her small sums of money to keep his interactions with her a secret, she said.
Police said that on the day of the incident, the accused allegedly lured the minor and assaulted her. Distressed by the incident, the child later took her own life while her mother was away, police said.
"Based on technical surveillance, CCTV footage, and statements from the family, we established Zeeshan's involvement. He was arrested near the Mirganj weekly market on Tuesday," they said.
