"Frequent elections put huge burden on govt treasury": BJP MP Dinesh Sharma slams Opposition on ONOE
Dec 17, 2024
New Delhi [India], December 17 : BJP MP Dinesh Sharma has expressed his support for the 'One Nation, One Election' bill, citing its potential to boost India's GDP and reduce the financial burden of frequent elections on the government treasury.
He criticized the opposition for their negative role in Parliament and alleged that they prioritize the interests of other countries over domestic concerns.
Sharma also accused the opposition of selectively sympathizing with international causes, like Palestine, while ignoring domestic concerns, such as the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh.
"The negative role of the opposition has come to the fore (in the Parliament). 'One Nation One Election' increases the GDP of the country... Frequent elections put a huge burden on the government treasury and hamper the development process... Those (opposition) who see only the pain of Palestine, not the pain of Hindus of Bangladesh, have nothing to do with positive thinking for the country..," he said.
Earlier today, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024' and 'The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024' was formally introduced in Lok Sabha after members voted on it.
The bill proposes a 'One Nation One Election' or simultaneous elections to both Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The bill will be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed discussions.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha announced the result of the vote on the introduction of the bill in the House. The vote showed 269 members in favor (Ayes) and 196 against (Noes). This followed Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal's formal introduction of the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, on 'One Nation, One Election' and his agreement to send the bill to a JPC in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Manish Tewari opposed the move, arguing, "Beyond the seventh schedule of the Constitution is the basic structure doctrine, which spells out that there are certain features of the Constitution beyond the amending power of the House. The essential features are federalism and the structure of our democracy. Therefore, the bills moved by the Minister of Law and Justice are an absolute assault on the basic structure of the Constitution and are beyond the legislative competence of the House."
DMK MP TR Baalu opposed the bill, stating, "I oppose the 129th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2024. As my leader M.K. Stalin has said, it is anti-federal. The electors have the right to elect the government for five years, and this right cannot be curtailed with simultaneous elections."
