India's new national crusader against corruption Anna Hazare has ended his fast but not his political campaign. He has a new mission now and it is electoral reforms. He said Indian voters must have the Right to recall MPs and the right to reject all candidates in the ballot paper. The MPs said on Monday said that the ideas are simply unworkable.
"We have to recall the electoral system. There has to be a Right to reject and a Right to recall," said Anna Hazare.
Anna Hazare's new call for the Right to recall parliamentarians isn't receiving much political support. Political leaders and constitutional experts say it cannot be implemented - But is there an example in other democracies?
Having called off his 13-day long fast on Sunday, Anna Hazare is now giving a lot of food for thought to parliamentarians. He now wants to work on a Right to recall - an idea that has already been rejected by elected representatives.
"What if a MP is elected with 30 percent vote, 70 percent would then jump and seek recall. It was an idea that was dismissed by JP," said Subramaniyam Swamy, President, Janata Party.
"It's impractical, can't implement even at Panchayat level. People who are advocating this need to understand India first," said Vyalar Ravi.
The first successful recall took place in 1911 of Mayor of Seattle, the recall of elected representatives is already in existence in 9 states in America.
Hollywood Star Arnold Schwarzenegger was amongst the most high profile individuals to have been elected in 2003, in a special recall election to replace then Governor Gray Davis.
In India, states of Bihar, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh are some of the states that has Right to recall at the Panchayat level.
Anna also wants the government to look at the possibility of evolving a Right to reject for the voters. It implies that at the time of voting, voters should also have the option - none of the mentioned parties.
"Right to reject seems relatively more practical," said Congress leader Salman Khurshid.
"When the larger issue of electoral reforms comes in, it can be considered in the larger interest of politics," said BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.
The government would definitely try to avoid another confrontation with Anna Hazare, it would not want to be on the wrong side of any people's movement. So in case of electoral reforms, it may well take a lead and not be caught on the back foot again.
"We have to recall the electoral system. There has to be a Right to reject and a Right to recall," said Anna Hazare.
Anna Hazare's new call for the Right to recall parliamentarians isn't receiving much political support. Political leaders and constitutional experts say it cannot be implemented - But is there an example in other democracies?
Having called off his 13-day long fast on Sunday, Anna Hazare is now giving a lot of food for thought to parliamentarians. He now wants to work on a Right to recall - an idea that has already been rejected by elected representatives.
"What if a MP is elected with 30 percent vote, 70 percent would then jump and seek recall. It was an idea that was dismissed by JP," said Subramaniyam Swamy, President, Janata Party.
"It's impractical, can't implement even at Panchayat level. People who are advocating this need to understand India first," said Vyalar Ravi.
The first successful recall took place in 1911 of Mayor of Seattle, the recall of elected representatives is already in existence in 9 states in America.
Hollywood Star Arnold Schwarzenegger was amongst the most high profile individuals to have been elected in 2003, in a special recall election to replace then Governor Gray Davis.
In India, states of Bihar, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh are some of the states that has Right to recall at the Panchayat level.
Anna also wants the government to look at the possibility of evolving a Right to reject for the voters. It implies that at the time of voting, voters should also have the option - none of the mentioned parties.
"Right to reject seems relatively more practical," said Congress leader Salman Khurshid.
"When the larger issue of electoral reforms comes in, it can be considered in the larger interest of politics," said BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.
The government would definitely try to avoid another confrontation with Anna Hazare, it would not want to be on the wrong side of any people's movement. So in case of electoral reforms, it may well take a lead and not be caught on the back foot again.
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