Use inner voice of conscience: Meira to MPs and MLAs
Attempting to boost her prospects of winning the presidential poll, the Opposition’s nominee Meira Kumar on Sunday appealed to MPs and MLAs to heed to their “inner voice of conscience” when they vote on July 17.
The NDA’s presidential candidate, Ram Nath Kovind, seems set for a comfortable victory with the already assured support of about seven of 11 lakh electorate, including those belonging to the NDA, JD(U), TDP, and AIADMK.
There is no party whip in the presidential election and therefore, voting against the party line doesn’t attract anti-defection law.
Lauding the Congress-led Opposition group, Kumar said representatives of 17 major political parties unanimously decided to fight the presidential election on the basis of values and principles, adding that the presidential election was a process “larger than any individual or party”.
“I am fortunate to have been associated, in various ways, with two monumental struggles of our land - the struggle to free India from the colonial rule and the fight against the tyranny of caste that still plagues our culture and polity. The nature of these two struggles has deeply influenced my sentiments, my thoughts and my actions,” Kumar said.
During her life in public service, Kumar said, she was inspired by the example set by the foundational leaders of our country, regardless of their political affiliations.
Despite the differences, “I have found that when it comes to preserving the values of inclusiveness and the need for social justice, we all share the same goals. The Constitution recognises the office of the President as being the final touchstone for
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj launched a veiled attack on the opposition parties’ presidential nominee Meira Kumar, by posting a video of her 2013 Lok Sabha speech in which the former Speaker was seen repeatedly interrupting the then leader of opposition.
“This is how Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar treated the Leader of Opposition,” Swaraj tweeted, posting a link to the six-minute video.
She also tweeted a link to a media report, which said that the Speaker had interrupted Swaraj 60 times in her six-minute speech that was laced with strong criticism of the then UPA government over allegations of corruption.
the passage of laws. It, therefore, cannot function to serve narrow political interests.”
In the open letter to the members of the collegium, she said, they have the unique privilege to make history. “This is that moment when one should heed the inner voice of conscience and set the course of the nation. Let us stand together, in spirit and action, to affirm our pledge to this sacred process … and to that guiding voice within us,” said the Opposition’s presidential candidate.