Karnataka Assembly adjourned sine-die, after special debate on electoral reforms
Bengaluru, Mar 30: Need for stronger anti-defection law, making voting compulsory, functioning of the Election Commission and ending nexus between political parties and corporate bodies, were among the issues that came up for discussion during a special debate on electoral reforms in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, before it was adjourned sine die.
Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah expressed concerns over the deteriorating electoral system in the country since 1970s; while Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai expressed hope citing the innate strength among the people of the country to protect democratic system and values, despite diversity.
Participating in the debate, Bommai said, "India's democratic system has stood the test of time and we have been able to protect it. There is a smooth transfer of power in our country after every election, when compared to several developed countries, including the US."
Stating that there is no need for getting disheartened about the present electoral system, compared to the past, he said he has confidence in youngsters and changes in technology that is trying to bring in some kind of transparency.
"Certain percentage of voters may get infused, but normally every voter wants his vote to win...a voter observes everything, whether he takes allurements or not, most of the voters do (vote) according to what is in his or her mind," he said, adding that political parties need to understand this, as making people corrupt is the greatest sin.
Siddaramaiah during his intervention expressed concern about growing nexus between political parties and corporate bodies and said they have now reached a position of controlling governments, whichever party they may be from. "Also electoral bonds should be completely stopped," he said.
Advocating for strong laws to protect the electoral system, he felt that there should be a collegium system to make appointments to the Election Commission.
Noting that other bodies of the constitution and society on the whole are also responsible for the deterioration of the electoral system, he stressed on the need for liberating it from the mafia, money and caste.
However, former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said, despite allurements of money, liquor, and caste factor, voter when he goes to the polling booth votes according to his conscience, and that is what is safeguarding democracy and the system so far.
Senior Congress Leader and former Speaker Ramesh Kumar stressed the need for strengthening the tenth schedule of the Constitution that deals with anti-defection and making voting mandatory.
Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, calling on the youth to become caretakers of the democracy and the parliamentary system, said, "My vote is not for sale" should become a mass movement.
He said he will bring to the notice of constitutional bodies, including the Election Commission, about the Karnataka assembly 's debate on electoral reforms and suggestions made.
JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the Election Commission should clarify doubts regarding the credibility of the Electronic Voting Machines, and called for an open discussion in this regard.
He also said that there should be discussion and accountability must be fixed regarding missing EVMs, which was pointed out by senior Congress MLA H K Patil.
During the debate on electoral reforms on Tuesday, citing RTI reports, Patil had said almost 19 lakh EVMs were missing and nobody knows where they have gone.
Reacting to Patil's statement, Speaker Kageri had said he would use his office to seek an explanation from the Election Commission on where 19 lakh EVMs are.
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Will do whatever we can: Iranian official on Nimisha Priya case
New Delhi, Jan 2: Iran will do whatever it can in the case of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, facing a death sentence in Yemen, a senior Iranian official said on Thursday.
Priya, hailing from Kollengode in Kerala's Palakkad district, has been found guilty of murdering a Yemeni citizen in July 2017.
The 37-year-old nurse is currently lodged in a jail in Sana'a, the Yemeni capital city that is under the control of Iran-backed Houthis.
"We will take up the issue. She seems to have been charged with manslaughter. We will do whatever we can in the case on humanitarian grounds," the Iranian official told a group of journalists in Delhi.
The Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mahdi, reportedly died from an overdose of sedatives allegedly injected by Priya to retrieve her passport from him.
According to reports, Priya was handed capital punishment by a trial court in 2020 while Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council upheld the verdict in November 2023.
Yemen's President Rashad al-Alimi approved the death penalty to Priya a few days ago.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Tuesday said India is extending all possible help to explore relevant options in the case.
"We are aware of the sentencing of Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that the family of Priya is exploring relevant options," Jaiswal said.
"The government is extending all possible help in the matter," he said.
Priya's mother, Prema Kumari, currently in Sana'a, has made an emotional appeal to the Indian government to save her daughter's life.
In a video message from Yemen, Prema Kumari urged the Centre and other authorities to intervene urgently.
"This is my final plea. She has only a few days left. Every member of the action council has worked tirelessly to raise funds. I beg the Centre and the council to do everything possible to save her life," she said.
