Press Releases Archive

Robin Hood politics robbing India Of super power stature

Instead of becoming an economic super power in the next one or two decades, India will sink into a bottomless abyss if the media, middle classes and the youth do not put an end to Robin Hood politics, warned Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today.

In his keynote address at a national seminar on electoral reforms, Dr. JP said that modern day kleptocrats, irrespective of the party to which they belong, have mastered the art of plundering State funds and perpetuating poverty among the masses by throwing a few crumbs at them. Instead of getting indignant, the masses feel grateful for the sops they receive. The country’s future will be bleak if such status quo-ism is not ended.

C. Achyutha Memon Study Centre & Library, Thiruvananthapuram, and Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, organized the seminar to discuss the entire gamut of electoral reforms ranging from restructuring of the Election Commission and reforming of the electoral system to curbing the use of money and muscle power in elections.

Dr. JP said that democracy has not proved to be a disaster as some feared. Conduct of regular, peaceful and competitive elections, people enjoying political freedoms, and orderly transfer of power in election after election reflect the strengths of democracy in India. However, unprecedented use of money and muscle power, most of it funded by illegitimate resources, to influence voters has undermined democracy. Political parties have made the sovereign people mere mendicants.

Dr. JP underlined the need for a total transformation in the way political parties functioned. They should become instruments in the hands of people for bettering their lives and cease to be private properties of a few people. The electoral system should be so reformed that every vote counts as in proportional representation. There should be direct elections to local governments. The Election Commission, which has grossly failed in ensuring continuous voter registration and publication of flawless voters’ lists, should turn a new leaf. A concerted effort should be made to mitigate if not eradicate corruption by ensuring sure and swift punishment, including forfeiture of properties of the guilty.

Dr. JP recalled that many countries had gone through such turmoil in their history and overcome them. “The challenge before us is overcoming such problems in the next ten years and not one hundred years.”

Saturday, July 10, 2010 - 21:32

Dr. JP to deliver keynote address On Electoral reforms

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan will be delivering the keynote address at a national seminar on electoral reforms at Thiruvananthapuram on July 10, 2010.

C. Achyutha Memon Study Centre & Library, Thiruvananthapuram, and Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, are jointly organizing the seminar to discuss the entire gamut of electoral reforms ranging from restructuring of the Election Commission and reforming of the electoral system to curbing the use of money and muscle power in elections.

Vice President of India M. Hamid Ansari, Governor R.S. Gavai, Kerala Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan and Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy took part in the inaugural function on July 8.

Former Election Commissioners, political scientists, jurists, eminent journalists, social activists, besides national leaders of political parties are attending the three-day seminar.

Dr. JP left for Thiruvananthapuram this evening.

Friday, July 9, 2010 - 22:51

Lok Satta condemns liquor lobby Attacks on party activists

The Lok Satta Party today condemned the arrest of and physical assault on its activists, now on a State-wide campaign demanding restriction of liquor consumption, including closure of illegal outlets (belt shops) and sitting rooms attached to licensed shops.

The Ongole police arrested nearly 40 Lok Satta activists including State party General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao, district party President Allu Siva Ramesh Reddy, State Yuva Satta leaders Dasari Ratnam and P. Sivaji as they attempted to prevent open drinking at a licensed shop on the night of July 8. The police would not heed the Lok Satta leaders’ assertion that they could arrest people violating law under Section 43 of the Criminal Procedure Code and hand them over to the authorities for follow up action. The police later released them on instructions from the Superintendent of Police.

On July 9, liquor vendor supporters assaulted Narasaraopet Mahila Satta President G. Nirmala Bose as she and other activists tried to close down unauthorized liquor outlets in Vennadevi village of Sattenapalli mandal in Guntur district.

Giving this information, Lok Satta Party leaders Bhisetty Babji, V. Laxman Balaji and V. Vijayender Reddy said in a statement that the incidents mirrored the deep roots struck by the liquor lobby in the State with the support of the State Government and traditional political parties or ‘Sara parties’ standing for sampradaya rajakiya pakshalu.

The Lok Satta Party leaders said that far from cooperating with Lok Satta activists in enforcing laws, the police and excise wings have chosen to ignore the liquor lobby’s illegal activities.

Friday, July 9, 2010 - 17:26

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