Reforming power to serve people
Context :
Political parties in India pursue power without adequate transparency and accountability.
Recent events yet again highlight the need for electoral reforms. currently , in Madhya Pradesh, the ruling Congress is battling defections.
Why Capturing power :
- The primary goal of political parties is to capture power, and they use all the means at their disposal to obtain power.
- Power brings money, privileges, and control of the treasury. The total budgeted expenditure of the Central government for 2019-20 is ₹27.86 lakh crore. So, the stakes are high.
- Political parties in power are supposed to deliver good governance and serve the public, but usually power becomes an end in itself.
- The fact that more and more freebies are being provided nowadays clearly shows that public funds are being used by those in power to lure voters, and are not necessarily being used for public service.
Factors that strengthen the growing deterioration in the quality of Election campaigns :
- Rapidly increasing criminalisation of politics. In 2019, the Lok Sabha had 43% MPs with a criminal record, up from about 23% in 2004.
- Widespread use of social media to spread fake news during an election campaign.
Factors affecting transparency in forming of power :
- Total lack of transparency in the funding of political parties. Electoral bonds have made it even more difficult to trace the source of funds of political parties.
- political parties in power have complete hold over law and order.
Consequences :
- All governments, whether Central or State, are in financial difficulty. More than 25% of the Central Budget is spent on paying interest on money borrowed by the government. Then there is deficit financing.
- India’s fiscal deficit is among the highest in the developing world, with the IMF estimating it to be 7.5% of the GDP in 2019.
way forward :
- India needs a system that throws up parties and politicians whose primary goal is public service, not power.
- That goal of having enlightened politicians who feel answerable to the people is perhaps distant.
- Above all, we need political party reforms that make parties transparent, accountable and democratic.
Telangana Assembly passes resolution opposing CAA, NPR, and NRC
Context :
The Telangana Legislative Assembly has opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR), and National Register of Citizens (NRC), alleging these formed part of concerted attempts to tinker with the inclusive and non-religious nature of the citizenship.
Besides violating principles of equality, non-discrimination and secularism, the concerted attempt would also endanger the lives of vulnerable groups who did not possess documentary proof of citizenship. “Moreover, there are serious questions as to the legality and constitutionality of the CAA, NPR and NRC,” a resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly.
Fear of a theocratic State :
The enactment of the CAA raised concerns that by introducing a religious test for citizenship, the Act insulted the memory of India’s founders who consciously chose not to incorporate a “racial principle” or “religious principle” in the provisions applicable to citizenship. The enactment of CAA had created grave apprehensions among various sections of society that it was a prelude to the NPR which would lead to a nationwide NRC.
Concerns and confusion :
“Thus there are valid concerns as to the legality and constitutionality of NPR and NRC. There is confusion even as to the mandatory nature of the NPR,”. In addition, the conflation of NPR and Census exercise resulted in endangering the integrity and safety of the Census exercise.
The resolution urged the Central government to amend Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 in order to remove all references to any religion or to any foreign country.
Madhya Pradesh ( Floor test )
Context :
Madhya Pradesh govt. crisis , With uncertainty looming over the floor test in the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on March 16, Chief Minister Kamal Nath said it was the Speaker’s call, while demanding the Congress 16 MLAs “held hostage” in Bengaluru be freed first.
Whats the Issue :
Most of the rebel Congress MLAs are said to be supporters of Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the ruling party and joined the BJP .
What is “floor test” :
- In parliamentary system, the government is made by a party or a group of parties i.e. a coalition, which has support of majority of elected members present in the house.
- A floor test is a motion through which the government of the day seeks to know whether it still enjoys the confidence of legislature.
- In this procedure, a CM appointed by the Governor can be asked to prove majority on the floor of the Legislative Assembly of the state.
- The chief minister has to move a vote of confidence and win a majority among those present and voting.
- If the confidence motion fails to pass, the chief minister has to resign.
- The idea behind a floor test is to ensure transparency in the constitutional process.
What is Composite “floor test”:
- If there is more than one person staking claim to form the government and the majority is not clear, the governor may call for a special session to see who has the majority.
- Some legislators may be absent or choose not to vote. In such a case, the majority is counted based on those present and voting
Voting process :
These are the modes by which voting can be conducted :
- Voice vote: In a voice vote, the legislators respond orally.
- Division vote: In case of a division vote, voting is done using electronic gadgets, slips or in a ballot box.
- Ballot vote: Ballot box is usually a secret vote – just like how people vote during state or parliamentary elections. The Supreme Court in its order on Friday rejected the Yeddurappa’s government’s request for a secret ballot.
Ministry of Culture to revisit 1958 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act
Context :
Ministry of Culture has announced that it is to revisit the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. The Act regulates construction around centrally-protected monuments and classify them based on their historical significance.
Policy :
- Currently, the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, imposed a ban on construction of any kind within a 100m periphery of centrally-protected monuments. It also allows only certain types of regulated construction within the 100-200m perimeter.
- The existing provisions hinder much significant development work around these areas.
- Therefore, in 2018, the government moved an amendment to the law in order to remove these restrictions.
- In February 2019, a parliamentary standing committee examined the bill and submitted its report.
- The Committee advocated the need for a law that balanced the preservation of monuments of historical significance and development of infrastructure around the monuments.
source : the hindu