Anna's electoral reforms impractical: CEC SY Quraishi
New Delhi: Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare faced some more opposition as his proposed electoral reforms got a thumbs down from Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi who called them impractical. Speaking exclusively to Karan Thapar, Quraishi said it isn't possible in India.
SY Quraishi: Right to recall means about 5 lakh people will have to sign the application to recall, then we will have to verify those signatures, even as we have a case in our court right now, one party has split with 250 affidavits on each side. It is maddening to find out which signature is bogus.
Karan Thapar: So you are dead against the right to recall?
SY Quraishi: Yes absolutely. It's not possible at all in India. It will derail and destabilise the country. Everywhere discontented people will start recalling.
Also, in order to improve the credibility of the Election Commission, Quraishi has suggested that the appointment of the high powered body be done by a collegium of people representing a cross section of political parties. He said that such a move will drastically help in improving the public perception about the institution.
Karan Thapar: You were appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner by the Manmohan Singh government. Would you feel more empowered, stronger and more able to take measures if Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley had been part of the appointing authority?
SY Quraishi: Public perception is so important and this will definitely help in the public perception of neutrality of the institution.
Karan Thapar: So the Election Commission would feel more powerful if it was appointed by a cross political body rather than that by the government.
SY Quraishi: Yes I would think so.
New Delhi: Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare faced some more opposition as his proposed electoral reforms got a thumbs down from Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi who called them impractical. Speaking exclusively to Karan Thapar, Quraishi said it isn't possible in India.
SY Quraishi: Right to recall means about 5 lakh people will have to sign the application to recall, then we will have to verify those signatures, even as we have a case in our court right now, one party has split with 250 affidavits on each side. It is maddening to find out which signature is bogus.
Karan Thapar: So you are dead against the right to recall?
SY Quraishi: Yes absolutely. It's not possible at all in India. It will derail and destabilise the country. Everywhere discontented people will start recalling.
Also, in order to improve the credibility of the Election Commission, Quraishi has suggested that the appointment of the high powered body be done by a collegium of people representing a cross section of political parties. He said that such a move will drastically help in improving the public perception about the institution.
Karan Thapar: You were appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner by the Manmohan Singh government. Would you feel more empowered, stronger and more able to take measures if Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley had been part of the appointing authority?
SY Quraishi: Public perception is so important and this will definitely help in the public perception of neutrality of the institution.
Karan Thapar: So the Election Commission would feel more powerful if it was appointed by a cross political body rather than that by the government.
SY Quraishi: Yes I would think so.