Give the people right to recall their reps: Lokayukta

Bangalore, May 1 (UNI) Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde today said Indian voters should get the right to recall elected representatives in the wake of increased corruption and cynicism among the elected in respecting the sentiments of the people.

Speaking after inaugurating the Karnataka State Voters Forum here, he said though democracy had survived in the country, it had not empowered the people to play any active role but for exercising their franchise once in a while.

''The people have no say in what politicians or bureaucrats do.

Once he elects a government the 'aam admi' has no say in governance.

Politicians once get elected don't care for the electorate. If people of the country have no say in how the country should run, then what is the use,'' he asked.

Justice Hegde said there was a need to make the so-called intelligentsia, who repeatedly stay away from voting, become pro active during the elections.

''The so called learned people come in less and less number to vote. They think they don't make any difference to the results. We should erase this attitude. Though corruption is rampant, at least you can vote for the best among the worst,'' he added.

He said it was surprising that no action was being taken against the politicians, who declare their assets during elections that had grown many times between two elections.

''We saw in Karnataka, some politicians declared hundreds of crore of rupees worth assets. Where did they get this. If Lokayukta is given powers to investigate this, we will bring out the truth,'' he said.

Forum President P M Baliga said the agenda of the forum was to ensure photo identity cards to all voters in the country, educate people on importance of voting and electing the right representative, keep out criminals from elections and educating people not to accept gifts during elections.

It would launch a campaign with members donning the masks of national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru to educate voters about the national values, he said.

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