Rajs voting remark worrying,say activists

A day after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief suggested that homeless should not be allowed to vote,activists have raised concern over his demand.

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A day after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief suggested that homeless should not be allowed to vote,activists have raised concern over his demand.

An all-inclusive growth means that every section of the society must be included in the voting process. We do not expect a responsible leader such as Mr Raj Thackeray to use such expressions and opinions. His view that homeless not be allowed to vote reminds one of British Colonial era,where only rich and well-educated were allowed to vote, said Rajendra Bhise of Maharashtra Social Watch Youth for Unity and Social Action (YUVA).

According to Bhise,leaders should keep in mind that Maharashtra does not comprise only the industrialists,businessmen and middle class but also nomadic tribes and those toiling in every corner of the state.

A true democracy should involve all these including the homeless in the election process and for all round development, said Bhise.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray had met state election commissioner Debashish Chakraborty last week and demanded that people living on the streets must not to be allowed to vote. He had asked the Election Commission to stop registering homeless people in the voter list and remove the names of those who have already registered. Citing an increasing number of Bangladeshis living on streets as a security threat,Thackeray had said giving voting rights to the homeless will increase bogus votes.

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