Former RSS chief, Shia leader appeal people to shun caste politics

Lucknow, Oct 30 (ANI): Highlighting the need for an exhaustive overhaul of the prevailing system of elections, former Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief K. S. Sudarshan and eminent Muslim Shia leader Kalbe Sadiq on Sunday appealed to the people not to vote on the basis of caste.
The two eminent community leaders, who met here, asserted that such polls reforms would rectify anomalies in the nation's democratic institutions.etting aside religious differences, Sudarshan, an eminent Hindu ideologue, and Sadiq, an equally respected and revered Muslim scholar, expressed concern at the growing rot in the nation's democratic system due to graft and also criminalisation of politics and politicisation of religion.
Sadiq appealed to masses to rise above social differences and barriers of faith while casting their franchise.
"Both of us agreed on the issue of poll reforms in the country. This is an absolutely valid demand. Secondly, people should not think about caste, creed and religious parameters while casting their votes. If I am a Muslim and I see an honest Hindu candidate contesting an election, then it is my duty to vote for him rather than for a candidate who may be a Muslim but is dishonest," Sadiq told mediapersons after his meeting with Sudarshan.
"The same holds true for the Hindu voters. A Hindu voter should also vote for a Muslim candidate with a clean image rather than for another Hindu contestant who is tainted and corrupt," he added.
Echoing similar sentiments, Sudarshan urged political parties and parliamentarians to bring about extensive reforms in the electoral process to reinforce India's democratic machinery.
"Today, a contestant is declared a winner even though merely 20 percent of electorate have cast their votes in favour of him. While the rest 80 percent of voters are against him, that candidate feels he represents the entire society in that particular constituency," said Sudarshan.
"However, he is only concerned with the 20 percent of the masses who voted for him. To rectify this anomaly, only that candidate who secures more than 50 percent of votes in an election must be declared the winner," he added. (ANI)

At last we are hearing some sane voices from the religious leaders.
Now what will Diggy Raja say.
He has been blaming the RSS for anything and everything.
I agree with these leaders.
After the Lok Pal bill is passed, the next action plan for Anna should be changes in the electoral system so that the winning candidate has to procure at least 50% of the valid votes cast in the constituency.
Provision should also be made for rejection of all the candidates if the voter finds none of the fit for getting his vote.
Polling expenses should be drastically reduced and closed monitored. At present only the rich can stand for elections. Better still, the state should fund the elections.
And most important, persons convicted should not be allowed to stand themselves or put up proxy candidates.
An appeal in a higher court against a lower court conviction should not negate the conviction and the convicted should remain barred.