The Election Commission is setting a bad precedent by issuing notices to parties, not leaders, for MCC violations. Does it expect Nadda to pull up PM Modi or Kharge to chastise Rahul Gandhi? It’s odd as EC routinely sent notices to Gandhi earlier. Policy of not naming names is curious.
SC gives losing candidates right to verify 5% of EVMs. It fortifies faith in democracy
The VVPAT issue stands settled. The demand for physical verification of voter slips has been rejected but more importantly, the Supreme Court has given losing candidates the right to verify 5% of the EVMs. This adds an extra layer of security to the electoral process and fortifies faith in democracy.
Overturning Weinstein’s NY conviction perpetuates outdated notions of sexual violence
NY Court overturned Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction based on the ‘prejudiced’ trial judge allowing testimony of ‘prior bad acts’. The decision is legally sound but as a dissenting judge noted it perpetuates outdated notions of sexual violence. The accused will have to live through trauma again in retrial.
ThePrint report on BJP & Congress’ women candidates exposes parties’ hypocrisy
ThePrint report about women constituting 16.1 per cent of BJP and 13.9 of Congress candidates exposes parties’ hypocrisy about women’s empowerment. It’s about prejudice, not winnability. BJP’s female candidates outperformed male counterparts in 2014 & 2019. It explains why Modi government didn’t set a timeframe to implement women’s reservation law.
On a lighter note, the ECI has done what in Punjabi is called, Kahoon beti ko, sunaoon noon noo. A moral equivalence is created between two leading competitors. A line is drawn in the sand. Hopefully its stern message, delivered diplomatically, will get the job done.