Chandigarh – Haryana Governor, Mr. Jagannath Pahadia today said that India has a strong democracy and many countries of the world were not only following it but also sending their delegations to study the Indian democratic system.
Mr. Pahadia was speaking in a state level function organized on the occasion of National Voter’s Day at Panchkula near here today.
The Governor said that today first voters’ day was being celebrated throughout the country. He said that our Constitution has a provision of right to vote for every citizen above 18 years of age. Value of vote of people belonging to all castes and religion is equal. Election was backbone of the democracy and this work has been done by Election Commission, which was set up on January 25, 1950. It was a matter of pride that Election Commission of India had successfully conducted 15 Parliamentary elections, hundreds of by-elections and Vidhan Sabha elections so far. Similarly, elections of President, Vice-President and Rajya Sabha were effectively conducted, he added.
Mr. Pahadia said that former Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi got the youth above 18 years to cast their vote.
The Governor also released compendium of general elections to Haryana Vidhan Sabha from 1967 to 2009. He delivered Photo Electoral Identity Cards to those who got registered themselves first time as voters. He also administrated the oath to the voters.
Speaking at the occasion, Chief Secretary, Mrs. Urvashi Gulati said that developing democratic countries have seen India’s election system as a model. She said that countries like Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Malaysia have taken the services of Election Commission of India for setting up their election system. She said that she herself had been to Sri Lanka as International Observer during President’s Election in the year 2000.
Mrs. Gulati said that though all people of Haryana are not literate yet they do not make any mistake while using EVMs during casting their votes. Voters have the right to choose the government as per their choice, she added. She also congratulated the state electors for massive turnout in last parliamentary and assembly elections.
Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, Mrs. Sumita Misra said that national voters day is being celebrated at state level, district level and booth level where new electors were being provided voter cards. She said that State Election Commission has made the process of registration as an elector easier. The Commission is considering for implementing the online system.
On this occasion, Mr. Pahadia honoured the winners of state level slogan writing and post making competition based on ‘cast your vote’ subject. In slogan writing, Ms Astha Kumar of Government College, Bawal Rewari bagged first position and was awarded with Rs.10,000 while Ms. Aarti Rani of Yamunanagar and Ms. Divya Sharma of Faridabad got second and third places and honoured with Rs.8,000 and Rs.6,000 respectively. Similalry, Ms Seema Rani of Sirsa, Ms. Rupal of Rotri Public School and Ms. Jyoti Kumari of Panipat bagged and first, second and third positions respectively in poster making competition.
