Indian citizens will have to decide whether they respect the democratic polity or just want democracy as a source, to enforce their fundamental rights.
We forget that if in our constitution, fundamental rights, is an important aspect enshrined in it, there is another very important aspect, which we relate to as, fundamental duties.
So if fundamental rights and fundamental duties go side by side, why can’t we assign the importance of fundamental duty to casting of the all important vote.
After all a vote decides the fate of the government, which can rule and decide for our rights to be safeguarded.
Right to vote should in fact be the duty to vote, in a democratic setup of a country like INDIA, where democracy happens to be the nation’s pride.
There can be legitimate discussion on the issue of a citizen exercising or not exercising his or her right to vote, unless and until we don’t make it a genuine “duty to vote”.
And making right into duty, needs constitutional amendment.
And such amendments are welcome ones.
If we say we need good roads, good hospitals, good schools, good education etc. etc. Then we need to be good citizens as well.
Moreover, when we make voting as fundamental duty and when everyone votes, it will be the prime responsibility of the government to see to it that everything is in place.
So, like other fundamental duties enshrined in the Indian constitution, to vote, should be one of them.
I support ” Duty to vote “, as constitutional basic for the Indian citizen, who wants to see India as #1.
JAI BHARAT