Don’t complain if you don’t vote: SY Quraishi

Election Commissioner SY Quraishi spoke to Swati Chaturvedi of Zee News about the bonhomie among the Commission members and much more.

A man of tremendous courage and will, SY Quraishi is dubbed as the force behind the successful voter turnout in the J&K Assembly polls. Due to internal conflicts within the Election Commission (EC), its members had to go through a rough patch. But the Commission is still managing to rein in politicians like Varun Gandhi. Quraishi, the firebrand Election Commissioner, spoke to Swati Chaturvedi of Zee News on ‘Kahiye Janab’ about the bonhomie among the Commission members, the challenges which they have to face during elections, and how dedicated they are towards their task.Swati: Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls voters are concerned about the internal rift within the Election Commission. What do you have to say on this?

Quraishi: In my opinion, things are being exaggerated. In a multi-member Commission, we discuss many issues and this has its own pros and cons. The members’ perception on the issues might vary but that doesn’t mean we are divided. There could be strong and biased views but these are very small issues. Swati: In the past, Election Commissioner TN Seshan had cracked the whip. During the last Gujarat Assembly Elections, JM Lyngdoh was credited with conducting fair polls, and in an extraordinary act you people managed to ensure 62% voter turnout in the recent J&K elections; then why are such senior and talented members of the Election Commission fighting among themselves? Quraishi: This is a very wrong emphasis. This is the same ‘quarrelling’ EC which had given such a wonderful result in the J&K elections just two months back, like you also said. There can be genuine differences among the members of the EC but what we finally deliver is a first rate result. There has been no single final decision which has not led to a fair result. If we are conducting a democratic exercise and within the Commission there is no democracy, then I think this is contradictory. I would like to add that in 95% of the cases, our judgments are unanimous and in only remaining 5%, there are differences of opinion, that too genuine. Divisions are exaggerated. During the J&K elections, each member of the EC gave his views on a number of issues, but in spite of all the dilemmas we decided to face every threat, and decided to prove to the world that India is a democratic country and we did it. Swati: After so many conflicts and tension when you people meet, can you communicate without any hassle? Quraishi: Perfectly, we do communicate in a very friendly way and the bonhomie always exists between us. Even behind the camera, inside the Commission’s room, no one would be able to make out that there is any conflict or difference of opinion between the three of us. Swati: The Chief Election Commissioner says that one of his colleagues is unfit to become his successor since he has a pronounced political bias and has been called an agent of the Congress? How do you react to this? Quraishi: Yes, I agree that this is not a small issue but you see in spite of all these differences the personal relationships never sour. Harmony is always maintained and we are united while taking decisions on elections. So, I think this gesture is a wonderful one and must be appreciated. (Laughingly) Look at our body language, which all the TV channels are eagerly capturing these days. This would give you a clear picture of our friendly behaviour and even inside closed doors our relationships are perfectly fine. Sometimes, we even crack jokes. Swati: ‘Khaas janab’ SY Quraishiji, please tell us why after the hate speech delivered by Varun Gandhi, incitement to mass murder, and in spite of an advisory from the EC to remove him from the BJP candidates’ list, the saffron party says the Commission doesn’t have any right to dictate anything to them. Is EC a toothless tiger? Quraishi: Well, there is lot to say on this issue but I would not like to comment anything on the Varun Gandhi episode. Since this is a legal decision, we cannot interfere in the legal matters. We don’t defend any judicial matters in public or in front of the media. A national debate is going on this issue which is very good. Legal debates are always good but we know our limits and don’t cross them ever. On one hand people say we are a toothless tiger, on the other they say we bite a lot. The criticism over being called toothless must be balanced. Swati: Delivering a hate speech is very common. If at all any verdict comes, it take ages to give the judgement. Except one instance where the right to vote of Bal Thackeray was taken away due to his hate speech, no other punishment has been meted out to politicians for such an act. So, what steps are being taken to bring such politicians to book? Quraishi: We cannot do anything regarding the criminals in politics. The Commission has on several occasions written to the government to bring in some legislation which can debar criminally convicted people from contesting the elections. But no political party will support this amendment as the government says that the opposition party can at any time just file a fake FIR against their opponents leading to their debarment. So we suggested a reform that at least those people must be debarred against whom the court has accepted the criminal charges. Swati: There was a time when people and the political parties used to be afraid of the decisions of the EC. In the light of the Varun Gandhi hate speech episode, especially when he is being backed by the principle opposition party, and the internal conflicts of EC, do you agree the EC’s moral authority is diminishing? Quraishi: Again I would not comment on the issue. The EC has always given an un-biased decision. Our ultimate goal is to conduct free and fair elections, and we try to eradicate all obstacles coming in the path of the elections. It’s our legal and constitutional responsibility. If any speech can flare up communal riots we are sorry for that. And as I mentioned before, we have already recommended reforms to keep criminals away from elections. Swati: Despite the entire mass media scrutinising the poll campaign, Mulayam Singh threatened a District Magistrate and Varun Gandhi used provocative words in his six speeches. Why can’t the EC take a statutory action immediately? Quraishi: No, it’s not the case. In spite of our hectic schedule we have taken decisions even on Sundays. During the election period, we work seven days a week to complete all the pending cases. We have solved at least 200 cases. Swati: Tell us one thing Sir, you have been watching political parties for the past many years. What do you think should be done to stop all what’s going on and who is the biggest offender amongst all the parties? Quraishi: I would not blame political parties so much. No political party violates the model code of conduct. And by and large political parties follow the model code of conduct. We advertise the model code in advance so that no one is able to violate them. But then too if anyone violates rules and regulations we take stringent measures against them. We don’t see which party they belong to and fulfil our duty. Parties respect the model code of conduct normally, and moreover this model code has been adopted by political parties also. We just impose the model code of conduct uniformly, equitably and fairly. We don’t wait for any complaints; we immediately take action whenever we find anyone breaking the code. Swati: A school of thought in India says there must be 100% compulsory voting. Does EC agree with this? Quraishi: No, an individual has to take a decision on his own whether to vote in the elections. For us, voters’ education is the first priority. We try our level best to make voters aware of their voting rights. But it has been seen that even the educated voters don’t cast their ballot and then blame the government. If the citizens don’t contribute in the election by way of voting, then they don’t have any right to complain also. Our vote is our strength and everyone must avail this right to get a better government. Adaptation by: Sushmita Dutta