The Gujarat government on Tuesday reintroduced the mandatory voting in the local bodies’ bill in the state Assembly along with the governor’s message.
The Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill), 2009 was brought before the House without any change but along with governor Kamla‘s “message” dated April 5, who returned the bill passed earlier by the Assembly.
The governor had returned the bill recommending that its provisions be reconsidered for suitable amendments by the House. However, the state government has ignored the recommendation and reintroduced the bill as it is.
The governor had pointed out that it violated provisions of the constitution which guarantees freedom of expression which also includes the right not to vote. She noted that no provision has been made in the bill regarding government’s own duty of incorporating all eligible voters in the voters’ list or timely distribution of voters’ identity cards.
Meanwhile, the ruling party in the state Assembly passed a resolution criticising Union home minister P. Chidambaram’s remark on “saffron terrorism”. Assembly member of the ruling party lashed out at the Union minister for the remark while Opposition members accused the Modi government of playing politics on the issue of terrorism. Besides, Opposition members had demanded a debate in the House on “deteriorating law and order situation in the state and arrest of former junior home minister Amit Shah for extortion in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case”.
However, when officiating Speaker Dolat Desai refused to allow the debate, Congress members, led by Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil, disrupted the proceedings, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House briefly.