Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said here that there is a need for paramount and path-breaking reforms in the electoral process of the country. Shri Naqvi said that Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Ji is an “Institution of Political Purity and Probity”. Deendayal Ji’s principle and ideology is an essential and effective lesson for electoral reforms.

Addressing a conference organized by Deendayal Upadhyay Seva Pratishthan in Lucknow today to celebrate the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Ji, Shri Naqvi said that many significant electoral reforms took place in the year 2000 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which included reducing the voter’s age from 21 years to 18 years; electronic voting machines; ban on contesting from more than two places; limit on election expenditure and putting curb on criminalization in the politics.

Shri Naqvi said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also initiated various crucial reforms in the electoral process. The Modi Government has brought “Electoral Bonds” to curb the use of black money by political parties, candidates in elections and to ensure financial transparency in the electoral process. The other electoral reforms introduced by Shri Modi also include easy and accessible procedures for voters; expansion of voter ID cards; legal restrictions on money and muscle power; formulating guidelines for non-serious candidates and political parties and the appeal for One Nation, One Election;.

Shri Naqvi said that along with other electoral reforms, ;One Nation One Voter List is also need of the hour. Different voter lists for elections to Panchayat, Municipal Corporation, Municipality, Vidhan Sabha, Lok Sabha and other elections not only create confusion but also raise questions on the credibility of the voter lists. ;One Nation One Voter List and ;One Nation One Voter Card; can help to solve this problem.

Shri Naqvi said that, while cautioning the people about money and muscle power in electoral politics, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Ji had said that, “Vote for a person, not for his purse; vote for a party, not for a person; vote for ideology, not for a party.” Deendayal Ji had also cautioned about the opportunism which has nowadays become “prevailing political practice”. Deendayal Ji had said that,;Opportunism has shaken the confidence of people in politics;. Shri Naqvi said that election is a festival of democracy.

People’s faith and enthusiasm towards election strengthens democratic values in India, the largest democracy of the world. Shri Naqvi said that principles of Deendayal Ji are crucial to strengthen the commitment to “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”. By assimilating Deendayal Ji’s principles of “Antyodaya, Harmony, Nationalism and Political Purity”, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has become a spear header of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”.

Shri Naqvi said that “Ekatma Manavvad” and “Antyodaya” is one of the guiding principles of Prime Minister Shri Modi. Shri Modi has fulfilled dream of “Ekatma Manavvad” and ;Antyodaya;. It reflects from his commitment to “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas”. Deendayal Ji and his economic policies have always talked about emphasizing on the welfare of the growth of poor and marginalized sections of the society. This is clearly visible in the Modi Government’s schemes and policies for the welfare of the needy.

Shri Naqvi said that leadership and policies of India and ethics and teachings of great personalities like Deendayal Ji have made India a strong and self-reliant nation. The entire world is today looking at India as a “trouble-shooter” during the crisis. Deendayal Ji's principles of ;Integral Humanism; and “Antyodaya” strengthen our values and thoughts. Prime Minister Shri Modi has been taking India forward on the path of becoming “Vishwa Guru” by adhering to the principles and ideology of Deendayal Ji.

Former UP Minister Dr. Ammar Rizvi, Deendayal Upadhyay Seva Pratishthan national president Shri Praveen Mishra, UP BJP spokesperson Shri Harish Chandra Srivastava and UP BJP spokesperson Shri Sanjay Chaudhary were also present on the occasion.