Media News Archive

Lyngdoh launches website to provide information to voters

Hyderabad (PTI): A unique website aimed at empowering the people with various information about the candidates contesting an election of the assembly and Parliamentary election was launched here on wednesday by former Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh.

www.Empoweringindia.org aims at providing comprehensive information to the voters so that they can make an informed choice, Barun S Mitra of Delhi-based Liberty Institute, which developed the website, told reporters here. The website gives analysis of election results and details about candidates like their criminal background, if any, and other information, he said.

Lyngdoh said the website is "very flexible" and he favoured making public the disclosures made by candidates on election expenditure along with the comments of the election officials.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer I V Subba Rao said the website is a step in the right direction as it would help voters make an informed choice. He said the launch of the website is very timely as it came in the run up to the elections to Lok Sabha and assembly in Andhra Pradesh.

Bureaucrat-turned-politician Jayaprakash Narayan sought the media to focus on what is not disclosed by the candidates in their election affidavits. "If a candidate declares assets worth Rs 5 crores, the media highlights that. It does not generally focus on what is not disclosed. What is concealed is more important many times," he said.

Subba Rao later said the final electoral rolls would be ready in the state by January 10 and Photo Identity Cards would be distributed next month, he added.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 14:12

Kadapa polls rigged: Congress spokesman

In a candid admission that could seriously embarrass the ruling Congress, its spokesman N Tulasi Reddy said here today that only those candidates, who could rig, win elections in Kadapa district –– the home district of no less a person than Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the Liberty Institute, he said, "in fact, all the winning candidates there owe their victory to rigging. All parties are searching for contestants who can rig polls in Kadapa district." He made these comments in the presence of Chief Electoral Officer IV Subba Rao. The Congress spokesperson further observed, "I have been involving myself in election process since 1983.

Earlier, candidates used to purchase voters wholesale by constructing churches or temples. Now, they are purchasing individual voters." When a participant sought to know if they were his personal observations or those of his party, Tulasi Reddy failed to reply prompting the other speaker, Lok Satta leader Jayaprakash Narayan, to quip: "As a party spokesman, his mind speaks. On occasions like this, his heart speaks."

Courtesy: Andhra Rajakeeyam.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 14:06

Lok Satta opposes Jamiat call for10 pc quota

HYDERABAD: Lok Satta Party on Monday opposed the demand for 10 per cent reservation to Muslims and other minorities in education and government
jobs made by Jamiat Ulama- e- Hind at the two-day meeting organised here on Sunday.

Addressing media, Lok Satta president Jayaprakash Narayan said the Supreme Court had imposed a cap of 50 per cent on reservation. " Even, if such a quota is feasible, experience shows that only well-educated and economically well-off sections were enjoying its fruits", he said.

He also felt that such demands would trigger social discord and the issue would be used for vote bank politics. Instead, he suggested that 10 per cent bonus marks in admission to higher educational institutions irrespective of caste and religion, would help the minorities. It was high time to organise an open debate on reservations, he said.

Welcoming the Jamiat declaration that terrorism was the biggest crime as per Quran, Jayaprakash said the acts of terror, violence and brutality were perpetrated against innocent citizens by criminals and fanatics and not by Hindus or Muslims. He said Jamiat statement was in consonance with "Wahabism" in Saudi Arabia which has declared that terrorism has no place in Islam.

Courtesy: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hyderabad/Lok_Satta_opposes_Jamiat_call_for10_pc_quota/articleshow/3696529.cms

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 13:53

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