Second Day - Press Release: 10th ADR Annual National Conference-Political Parties must function in transparent and accountable manner, Paid news emerging as a menace to democracy

Press Release: 10th ADR Annual National Conference-Political Parties must function in transparent and accountable manner, Paid news emerging as a menace to democracy

10th Annual National Conference on Electoral and Political Reforms

Ranchi, 15th Feb 2014: The second day of the 10th Annual National Conference being organized by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) focussed on the role of the media in elections as well as the grave necessity to address the most pressing problems in the electoral and political arena.

Role of Media in Elections:

Panelists: Mr. Vipul Mudgal (CSDS), Baijnath Mishr (Sanmarg), Anuj Sinha (Prabhat Khabar), Tanaya Singh (Youth ki Awaaz), Prashant Arya and Ramanjeet Cheema

Although media is termed as the fourth pillar of democracy but unlike other three pillars (legislature, executive and judiciary) it doesn’t have any statutory or constitutional power, says Vipul Mudgal of CSDS

Paid news is a menace to the health of democracy of the country. The power of money exercised by a handful of corporate houses are unfairly influencing and moulding public opinion.

The self-regulation mechanism has proved to be ineffective. There should be effective laws to govern and regulate the media

Internet and social media are increasingly playing a significant role because they provide a level playing field so that information evolves on these platforms in a fair manner. Internet enables everyone to become publishers of information.

Internet as a media is also an enabler for transparency and accountability of the reporting of information because it acts as an archive for all the past reports on an issue. Everybody is uploading their content on the internet and this provides an opportunity to everyone to carry out their own research regarding an issue.

Pending electoral reforms:

Panelists: Mr. R Venkataramani (Member, Law Commission), M.L.Sharma (Former Information Commissioner), Justice (Retd.) Vikramaditya Prasad, Ms. Kamini Jaiswal (Senior Counsel, Supreme Court)

Political corruption is the root cause of corruption in all other spheres, therefore it is imperative that Political Parties function in a transparent and accountable manner

Senior Advocate and Law Commission member Mr. R Venkataramani suggests the setting up of an election tribunal that would screen suitability of candidates to contest elections. This tribunal would receive complaints from citizens regarding candidates whom citizens think are unfit to hold a public office

Sources of contributions received and details of expenses incurred by Political Parties must be available in the public domain. The scrutiny of these disclosures will create moral pressure on these parties from the public

Pending cases against candidates contesting in elections should be fast-tracked in a court of law, says Justice Vikramaditya Prasad.

Candidates against whom charges related to grave offences have been framed in a court of law must be disqualified from contesting elections, says former Information Commissioner Mr. M.L. Sharma

Furnishing of incomplete affidavits and affidavits with incorrect information furnished by contesting candidates must be made grounds for rejection of the candidates’ nomination. The Election Commission must be given the powers to scrutinize and reject the nomination on these grounds, says Senior Lawyer of the Supreme Court Ms. Kamini Jaiswal

The way forward: The 10th Annual National Conference organised by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) concluded with the following resolutions:

As part of the Mera Vote Mera Desh campaign, all the state chapters of NEW will write letters to Political Parties requesting them not to field candidates with criminal records. These letters will be accompanied by details of candidates with serious criminal records who have been previously fielded by the Political Parties.

A pan-India campaign will be unleashed before Lok Sabha elections through all possible avenues of communication such as Digital, Electronic, Mobile etc.

Voters should press upon Political Parties to include in their manifestos the issues that directly concern voters.

More than 600 attendees of the conference have signed a pledge that they will not vote for tainted candidates or sell their votes for the candidates who try to bribe them with inducements like cash, liquor etc.

Association for Democratic Reforms

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