New Delhi: Objecting to the Centre’s move to permit overseas voters to exercise their franchise by proxy, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Thursday accused the Centre of violating the basic structure of the Constitution.
Speaking on behalf of the party, Bolangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo Thursday opposed the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2017 which seeks to amend the original Act of 1951 to permit an overseas voter to cast his/her vote in person or by proxy.
The BJD parliamentarian said democracy functions on one-vote-one-person system governed by the Election Commission (EC) of India.
“Does the EC have the power to monitor elections outside India? What provisions has he made to ensure that the registration of these people is correct? This strikes at the foundation of democracy and the Constitution,” said Singh Deo.
He asked the government how they could ensure that the proxy will vote as per the intent of the person who appointed him.
“If a lady working outside India asks her husband to go and vote for a certain party and if he doesn’t agree with her and votes against her choice is that not a violation of her choice? Sir, I would like to point out here that the individual’s freedom to choose gets violated,” he said.
Singh Deo said if voters living in other countries are paid money or given gifts how the EC can monitor that. He also said that this amendment violates the law of fair elections.
“For fair elections each political party must have an equal platform to campaign. In the last five years, the Prime Minister has visited many countries and has held mega rallies of the Indian Diaspora at the cost of the government. However, regional parties don’t have the money or embassies for campaigning,” he added.
“Should one political party enjoy the benefits of having all the embassies work for it leaving all other political parties at a disadvantage? With so many questions left unanswered unless the minister answers satisfactorily I will oppose the Bill,” he said.
GST AMENDMENT BILL: Make tax compliance easier, BJD tells Centre
New Delhi: Urging the Centre to make tax compliance easier, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo Thursday said small business units are suffering due to some grey areas in Goods & Services Tax (GST).
Kalikesh was speaking during a discussion on the Central GST (Amendment) Bill, 2018, the Integrated GST (Amendment) Bill, 2018, the Union Territory GST (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the GST (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill, 2018 in the Lok Sabha.
“When the concept emerged it was ‘one nation one tax’ and our party supported both the UPA when they brought the concept and the NDA when it tabled the concept on the floor of the House. But unfortunately it does not meet the objective that we or the entire nation imagined,” said Kalikesh.
“I agree with the minister that these particular amendments are necessary. But we think that he is doing too little and taking too much time to do it. We need to understand that the business community of India is suffering,” the Parliamentarian said.
“MSME sector is the engine of growth for India. Around 80 per cent of employment comes from there and we are stifling them with the GST not because it makes things more complicated with tax structure but it is riddled with compliance issues. They have to go to chartered accountants every month. They can’t do business because they have to ensure GST compliances,” he said.
Singh Deo further said, “There should not be any grey area in taxation system. If grey areas are left in taxation system it’s a fault of us – the lawmakers.”
“A lot more is needed to be done to ensure that compliance is made easier. I would like to press upon the minister to make the tax simpler and easier. You ensure this and I can ensure you that this country will stand up and pay the tax,” he added.
