Former judges extend an invitation to Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi for a debate during the Lok Sabha Elections. They are urging both leaders to engage in a public discourse to address crucial national issues. This initiative seeks to promote transparency and informed decision-making among voters. The invitation underscores a call for substantive dialogue in electoral campaigns.
Former Supreme Court Justice Madan Lokur, along with former Delhi High Court Justice AP Shah and former Editor of The Hindu, N Ram, extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for a public debate during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The invitation, as stated in a letter, aims to foster a non-partisan and nationalistic approach, focusing on the greater good of the country.
The proposal suggests that a public debate held on an unbiased and non-commercial platform would be advantageous for citizens and contribute to the enhancement of the democratic process.
The statement emphasizes,
“It holds greater significance given our status as the world’s largest democracy, with global attention focused keenly on our elections. A public debate of this nature would establish an important precedent, not only by informing the public but also by showcasing the genuine essence of a robust and lively democracy,”
The letter mentions that during rallies and public speeches, representatives from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) raised pertinent questions concerning the essence of our constitutional democracy.
According to the letter,
“The Prime Minister has openly challenged the Congress on matters such as reservations, Article 370, and wealth redistribution. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has posed questions to the Prime Minister regarding potential Constitution amendments, the Electoral Bond scheme, the government’s handling of China, and has also proposed a public debate challenge. Both parties have queried each other about their respective Manifestos and their stance on constitutionally safeguarded social justice initiatives.”
The letter raised concerns regarding the absence of substantial replies from either party. It highlights the significance of ensuring that the public is thoroughly informed about all facets of the discussion in today’s digital age, marked by misinformation and manipulation.
The letter further states,
As members of the public, we are concerned that we have heard only allegations and challenges from either side, and not heard any meaningful responses. As we are aware, today’s digital world carries with it a propensity for misinformation, misrepresentation, and manipulation. In these circumstances, it is fundamentally important to ensure that the public is well educated about all aspects of the debate, so that they can make an informed choice at the ballots this is central to the effective exercise of our electoral franchise,”
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In pursuit of this objective, Justice Lokur and Shah, accompanied by N Ram, invited Modi and Gandhi to engage in a discussion focusing on crucial election topics. They propose that the venue, duration, moderators, and format be decided through mutual agreement. Additionally, they suggest the possibility of each leader appointing a representative in case of their unavailability.
Read Letter