scorecardresearch
Follow Us:
Monday, August 03, 2020
View All Columnists

Columnists

S Y Quraishi

Quraishi is former Chief Election Commissioner.

Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections will hold lessons for India’s Election Commission ahead of Bihar polls
Mon, Aug 03, 2020

So far, South Korea has been the template. Sri Lanka may provide some more insights.

In this time of crisis, the most urgent imperative is to protect underprivileged families from starvation
Sat, Jun 27, 2020

There is an urgent requirement to put money in the hands of the impoverished to support them during the pandemic. This has been the refrain of the Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee. Further, the government must tighten the implementation of its critical schemes related to nutrition, food security and healthcare.

Our children need a happy, congenial environment to grow up in, not a climate of fear
Wed, Apr 29, 2020

If the formative years are so crucial, it is vital that what a child is exposed to is healthy and positive. In the global village, there are streams of messages floating around, generated by mutual hatred. Children are mercilessly left to infer what they can from these.

A weak rebuke: It’s unfortunate EC didn’t punish hate speech in Delhi campaign
Sat, Feb 15, 2020

Not taking action under the IPC encouraged the worthies like Parvesh Sahib Singh Varma to commit a repeat offence of indulging in a vitriolic diatribe against the Delhi CM for which the EC indicted him a second time within a week.

He put fear of God in recalcitrant politicians, was respected by all… Good bye, Mr Seshan
Mon, Nov 11, 2019

The awe and fear he evoked in us bordered on terror. Nobody had the guts to argue with him, not to speak of falling foul of him.

As Sri Lanka prepares for presidential polls, its Election Commission is the winner
Thu, Oct 24, 2019

The participation of youth was a common concern. There are nearly 3,00,000 first-time voters and the general opinion was that there would be a sense of apathy in them.

A protege’s tribute
Thu, Aug 08, 2019

Sushma Swaraj was a leader of courage and stature, an original thinker and doer.

Slipping on democracy
Tue, Feb 26, 2019

A recent Democracy Index confirms the paradox of India being the world’s largest electoral wonder, but an increasingly flawed democracy.

Not the EVM again
Thu, Jan 24, 2019

The accusers swap places with accused, and a contrived controversy goes on

Beyond binaries
Tue, Dec 04, 2018

A multi-pronged approach is needed to ensure the socio-economic uplift of the transgender community.

Court’s lost chance
Sat, Sep 29, 2018

Election Commission has been seeking SC’s aid to stem criminalisation of politics. Its verdict falls short.

Performing moderately
Sat, Sep 15, 2018

A new state of democracy report records a significant dip in India’s record on civil liberties, personal integrity and security, freedom of association, media integrity, gender equality

What I saw in Pakistan
Fri, Aug 03, 2018

Its general election was conducted in a transparent manner, with robust processes

Karnataka leftovers
Thu, Jun 07, 2018

The political drama has stoked important questions about parties, alliances, and the role of governor

Elections in the time of Cambridge Analytica
Fri, May 11, 2018

Stricter data protection laws are required to ensure that political parties do not indulge in practices that involve undue influencing of voting behaviour.

Lawmakers with perks
Mon, Feb 26, 2018

The long list of exemptions has made the office of profit a farce. Delhi Assembly case is an opportunity to debate the issue afresh.

The duty of the young
Sat, Jan 13, 2018

Since the politicians would do nothing to inform the youth about the socio-economic problems facing the nation today and only exploit them, it is the responsibility of civil society organisations and the media to educate young people.

In Nepal, with hope
Tue, Dec 12, 2017

Holding of the parliamentary and provincial elections is a huge achievement, a culmination of a tortuous process that started in 2006. The people now await development and stability.

And the winner is Election Commission
Thu, Aug 10, 2017

Gujarat Rajya Sabha election was BJP versus Congress. But it’s the ECI that covered itself in glory

Cleaning the House
Mon, Jul 24, 2017

Must tainted legislators be debarred from polls? For how long? Answers are about to come in

The polygamy myth
Thu, Jul 06, 2017

The Quran and Hadith are replete with verses in support of family planning. Muslim backwardness on this count is a fallout of poor socio-economic conditions.

Their Westminster, and ours
Thu, Jun 08, 2017

Despite the same electoral model, there are marked differences in how polls are conducted in Britain and in India

A UK election in the time of terror
Wed, Jun 07, 2017

Theresa May’s popularity has taken a knocking since she announced the election and it’s a moot point whether the three terror attacks in the UK help her cause

A time for electoral reform
Fri, Mar 31, 2017

A debate in Rajya Sabha last week raised important questions. These, like the Election Commission’s proposals and recommendations, must no longer remain unaddressed.

Shooting the EVM
Fri, Mar 17, 2017

Political parties question the EVM. But when they win with the same machines, they don’t eat their words.

Advertisement

EXPRESS OPINION

Advertisement

Best of Express

Advertisement

More Explained

Must Read

Aug 03: Latest News

Advertisement