Parties react cautiously, seek reforms
Reacting cautiously to the Supreme Court’s judgment on the disqualification of legislators, most of the political parties said the verdict was important but will have to be studied before making a structured response.
While the principal Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party insisted that the government should now expedite the electoral reforms process in the wake of the Supreme Court’s verdict, AICC general secretary Ajay Maken said that the Congress has always been supportive of bringing electoral reforms.
BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “The process of electoral reforms should be expedited in the light of this verdict. The government should do it on a priority basis.”
The party, however, maintained that it has not studied the top court’s judgment in detail and will come up with a structured response later.
Deputy leader of the BJP in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad said serious questions having wide ramifications on the issue have been raised in the past.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party always welcomes any step aimed at purifying and strengthening the political system. Serious questions having wider ramifications about this issue have been raised from time to time,” he said.
Union law and justice minister Kapil Sibal said the government will go through the detailed judgment to see its impact on the politics of the country and hold consultations before deciding on the next step.
“We will first read the verdict and see its impact on politics. We shall consult everybody and give our reaction,” he said.
Describing the judgment as an “important one”, CPI leader D. Raja said, “It is going to have a very serious implication on the entire polity. Political parties will have to study the judgment so that they will get benefited. They will have to educate their own cadres.” He said the question is as to how this is going to be implemented.
“The Election Commi-ssion will have to study the judgment and Parliament will have to take a position on the RP Act,” Mr D. Raja said.
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