The Government suffered embarrassment in the Rajya Sabha when the Opposition managed to pass an amendment to the President’s address, expressing regret that, the speech did not commit support to rights of all citizens to contest panchayat elections. The amendment was moved by the Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and led to division of votes in which 94 voted for the amendment and 61 against.

The Prime Minister, in his speech, referred to the qualification criteria fixed in BJP-ruled Rajasthan and Haryana for those contesting panchayat polls and said it has been approved by the Supreme Court but attempts were being made to give it a “political colour”.

“There can be difference of opinion. Some say what about those who remained illiterate,” he said, and went on to target the Congress, saying the reason for ‘illiteracy’ was the policies followed by its government after Independence. “We want to bring a qualitative change but it is being politicised,” Modi said.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, who was in the chair, gave a ruling after claims and counter-claims from both sides and said, “This is only a concern of members. There is also a valid explanation why these things be not there. There is no harm in putting it to vote.”

The amendment by LOP read: “…but regret that the address does not mention that the Government is committed to securing the fundamental right of all citizens to contest elections at all levels, including to panchayats to further strengthen the foundations of democracy which also forms part of the basic structure of the Constitution and is consistent with the spirit of the 73rd amendment, intended to expand and encourage democratic participation of the poor and marginalised without imposing education or any other limitations on the right to contest elections”.

“The Prime Minister always claims he hails from a backward background and for him to say such a thing is disappointing and unfortunate,” Azad said.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who is a member of the Lok Sabha, later said: “The right to contest elections is a basic right of every citizen of India. Our founding fathers fought against the British for this right. By making educational qualifications mandatory for contesting panchayat polls, the BJP and RSS want to take this right away from the poor, Dalits and Adivasis. They want to take this right away from all those who have been denied access, exploited and suppressed. Proud that Opposition came together against the BJP’s attempt to exclude more than 50 per cent of India’s electorate from the right to contest elections.”

By Premji