The Hindu : Sonia attacks poll reform ordinance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 28, 2002

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Sonia attacks poll reform ordinance

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 27. After distancing itself from the much-touted consensus on electoral reforms, the Congress today came out in open opposition to the Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance on the premise that it bypassed the will of the people and defied the basic tenets of transparency and accountability in politics.

The party president, Sonia Gandhi, today joined issue with the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been claiming unanimity within political circles on the ordinance. In a statement condemning the Centre's "move to wilfully pass'' it, she said the ordinance defied "the will of a vast majority of the people, the letter and spirit of the order of the Supreme Court, and the basic tenets of transparency and accountability in politics''.

Now that the Congress has come out with a categorical statement against the ordinance, the party is expected to introduce an amendment when it is brought up for ratification in the winter session of Parliament. The Congress amendment will favour the disclosure of the assets, the liabilities and the criminal antecedents without disqualification at the time of filing nominations whereas the ordinance provides for the disclosure after a candidate has been elected.

Expressing distress that the Congress was being clubbed with other parties in projecting the impression that all parties were united in opposing the implementation of the Supreme Court order, Ms. Gandhi said her party attached great importance to the apex court verdict on disclosure of information by candidates. The Congress, she said, was "fully in concurrence'' with the Supreme Court order that candidates must disclose all relevant information, particularly the details relating to convictions and charges for offences, assets and bank balances, and liabilities and over dues. Further, the party felt that all candidates must disclose such information at the time of filing nominations and prior to the elections.

The point where the Congress differs with the directivesdrawn up by the EC in the light of the Supreme Court verdict pertains to the powers of the Returning Officers to investigate the authenticity of the information given and to reject the nomination papers on the ground of incomplete or false information.

The Congress position is that the Returning Officer's responsibility should be limited to ensuring that the declaration is made and displayed. As for the authenticity of the declarations, that should be the prerogative of the appropriate court of law.

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