Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 14: Former chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, felt that it would be better to scrap anti defection law if the act does not have the strength to punish wrongdoers in a democracy. In an ironic way, he suggested to BJP national president, Amit Shah, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to take another historic decision like a few they have already taken, to dismantle the provisions of anti-defection law.

He was addressing a press meet at J P Bhavan of the party in the city on Wednesday November 13. "The Supreme Court has upheld the decision of the assembly speaker regarding disqualifying the legislators who resigned together. At the same time, it has removed the cause about ineligibility to contest elections. This verdict has given rise to doubt whether the anti-defection law has any relevance now. This law had been instituted to stop the people's representatives from crossing over to other parties at well. But the act does not seem to be having enough teeth. Therefore it is better to dump it," he reiterated.

He said that it would be better to make elected representatives to go to any party of their choice. He noted that laws and regulations are brought about in the country but it is repeatedly proved that their implementation does not have the desired effect. People who get elected under a party symbol have been changing parties without gathering public opinion. This is the root cause for all the problems, he felt.