Litterateur Dr. C.P. Krishnakumar (CPK) has opined that abstention from voting too is a form of corruption.

He was speaking after inaugurating Chutuku poems contest on the topic “Poll corruption and we” organised as part of voter awareness by Vivekananda Institute for Leadership Development (V-LEAD) at Rotary Centre on JLB Road in the city yesterday.

“There are two interpretations of poll corruption. While one interpretation is we should stop this the other is that we are directly or indirectly involved in that. Instead of attempting to check poll corruption, we are tolerating it. This apathy towards exercising our franchise is nothing short of encouraging corruption”, he observed.

Continuing, he said corruption is not limited to politics alone. In fact it has spread to all walks of life. Democracy in India has become a failure as Abraham Lincoln’s famous quote “Government of the people, by the people and for the people” seems to be reversed, he said and regretted that the current day politics only meant money and liquor.

He observed that the Election Commission’s upper limit on election expenditure of candidates is not correct as polls are to be fought without the influence of money. Also the ceiling sends a direct message that the candidates can spend money upto a limit and this is where the root of poll corruption lies, he remarked.

Calling for stringent electoral reforms to prevent electoral malpractices, CPK said voting should be made compulsory, abstention from voting must be declared an offence and called for a thorough verification of assets declared by the candidates.

Pointing out that keen watch should be kept on the declaration of assets by candidates during the previous election and the current one, CPK regretted that the Income Tax Department seems to be apathetic in this regard. The candidates by declaring assets in the name of their wives are openly admitting to polygamy. He feels surprised that no one is making serious objections to this, he said.

Observing that ‘chutuku’ is a popular form of poetry, CPK said contests like this will be more meaningful during elections and suggested that chutukus should aim at cleansing the political system rather than targeting any individual. Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement founder President Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, V-LEAD’s S.N. Harish and others were present.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore