New Delhi: BJP today welcomed Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's plan of giving voting rights to Non-Resident
Indians but suggested that the technology for ensuring success
of this process should be put in place first.
"It is a good thing. It was said much before also," BJP
spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, adding that the
government will have to bring in new technology and devise a
method to ensure that such an exercise is carried out smoothly
and effectively.
Citing the example of voting rights of defence and
para-military personnel through postal ballot, which has
hardly been a success, he said "Even now, only 2-3 per cent
security forces can vote".
Javadekar insisted that the government should first make
the system of voting by security personnel more pervasive and
effective so that more and more such voters can exercise their
franchise.
"For giving voting rights to NRIs, government will have
to prepare the technology roadmap....start preparations right
today," he said.
He said since NRIs cannot come be expected to come to
India to cast their vote, some technological arrangement will
have to be made.
Earlier, in his Pravasi Bharatiya Divas inaugural
address, Singh said he recognised the "legitimate desire" of
Indians living abroad to exercise their franchise.
"We are working on this issue and I sincerely hope that
they will get a chance to vote by the time of the next regular
general elections," he said.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, January 09, 2010, 00:48