Expressing a need for thorough probe in the allegations of rigging of EVMs (electronic voting machines), Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Wednesday said that some political leaders in Uttar Pradesh elections had complained regarding tempering of EVMs and the facts should be ascertained, if such doubts have cropped up.
Addressing a public meeting at Chururu (Amb) in Chintpurni, the Chief Minister said, though, he was not so tech savvy, but he believed, if there was any such uncertainty about functioning of EVMs, it must be checked well before the next elections in states.
Coming down heavily on few self made leaders, he said that political parties should form internal committees and bodies and the leader should be elected through such mechanism and not through nominations.
He said that few people who were nominated as leaders, should follow the democratic norms and should not consider them above all others, as they were not above the people. In fact, the leaders should be ready to contest and face elections and should be elected through voting, adding that we should not beat the very purpose of democracy, said he.
On functioning of Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis, Virbhadra Singh said that no matters if the 14th Finance Commission had withheld the grants to these local bodies, the government would fund them out of the resources.
Curtailing funds of Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samiti was certainly, I think a big mistake, by the Union government. I would take up the matter with the Union government to amend the recommendations of 14th Finance Commission to pave way for devolution of funds to Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads, said he.
He said that the BJP was spreading rumours that there was zero development in the state, but they should at least believe the surveys of the independent and central agencies in which Himachal was ranked first in big states for overall inclusive development and first big state in education.
He advised the state BJP leaders to use decent language instead hurling abuses on the opponents. The BJP leaders and few like-minded have crossed all limits of decency and started a new chapter of blame-game in politics accompanied with derogatory remarks on their opponents, said the Chief Minister.
“I don't oppose criticism, but it should be healthy one, in better interest of democracy”, he added. The Chief Minister added, it was wrong to make a Chief Minister, who was not given mandate by the people. The formation of governments through horse-trading, as recently witnessed in Goa and Manipur elections was a blot on democratic system, an example of authoritative rule, he said.