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90 per cent of people vote on caste lines: Katju

Nova

By Nova
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Nova Newbie

Nova

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NEW DELHI: 90 per cent of people vote on caste lines instead of assessing a candidate's merit, Press Council of India chief Markandey Katju said on Monday, claiming it allows people with criminal background to get elected. "When they go to vote, 90 per cent of the people don't see the merit of the candidate but take a decision only on the basis of caste. And not only the illiterate, I am talking of the educated," he said. Known to raise hackles with his often controversial remarks, the former Supreme Court Judge said it was not just the illiterate but the educated people who vote on caste lines and did not spare even his legal fraternity. Recalling of his own experience in the high court, Katju said that even lawyers would vote on caste lines. "I don't blame the uneducated, but am talking of the educated people. Professors of physics department, head of department ... would vote as per caste. How backward your country is," he said. The PCI chairperson said that there were so many people of criminal background who get elected because people voted for them if they belonged to the same caste rather than going by merit. Katju was speaking here at a function by organisation Vote for India, to mark the launching of national voter awareness week. Katju said Democracy is a feature of industrial society and not a feature of feudal agricultural society. "And till 1947 when India became independent, India was largely feudal," he said and added that the British policy had been to largely keep India unindustrialized. He said that when the country got independence, the far sighted founding fathers adopted a Constitution based on a western model. "The aim of the Constitution makers was to pull up society from its backwardness, from its feudalism and lift it up into the modern industrial age," he said. He said that though this idea succeeded with industry coming up and the country progressing but midaway the feudal elements took over with the result that people voted on caste lines. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/90-per-cent-of-people-vote-on-caste-lines-Katju/articleshow/18117893.cms
I have never looked at a candidate based upon caste. Is our generation finally beyond the clutches of caste based politics? I think so. May be the older generation still has some issues, but I think modern India, especially in urban areas, wants to vote for a candidate who is sincere and hard working. It's just that there is scarcity of such politicians.
Tiger80 Newbie

Tiger80

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DU Students’ Union (DUSU) election has always been a fight between Congress affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) and BJP-affiliated Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Mail Today says that political parties consider three broad factors while selecting candidates – caste (majority of the contenders are jat, gujjars, biharis and brahmins), financial background and physical appearance. http://www.firstpost.com/delhi/student-polls-jnus-intellect-vs-dus-student-hostels-450969.html
If Caste is a factor in Delhi University election where students are considered as most modern and face of new India ,one can say that Katju is not wrong
ganeshran Collaborator

ganeshran

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90% of Indians often pick random stats to emphasize their point or to signify that the majority support their view. Though caste is indeed a huge factor in voting especially in small towns and villages where people of a single caste tend to live close by.

Ram Newbie

Ram

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I have never looked at a candidate based upon caste. Is our generation finally beyond the clutches of caste based politics? I think so. May be the older generation still has some issues' date=' but I think modern India, especially in urban areas, wants to vote for a candidate who is sincere and hard working. It's just that there is scarcity of such politicians.[/quote'] You'd be surprised to know how dominant a role caste still plays in elections in India. It may be true that the electorate may just want to vote for the best candidate, but unfortunately, the caste plays a major role in the selection of the candidates for a seat. For example, if you go to certain parts of TN, literally all candidates from all parties for a given seat will be from the same caste. Surely, its not that only the said caste produces outstanding candidates in that area. We dont any such that thing called a true democracy in India.
Ram Newbie

Ram

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90% are idiots. 80% are communal. Minimum Rs 2000 required to start a communal riot. Where is he getting all these numbers from? :cantstop:
:hysterical::hysterical: If that is true, it seems like starting a communal riot is cheaper than a family of four going out for a dinner in a decent restaurant in India these days. :haha:
King Tendulkar Newbie

King Tendulkar

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He is right though. Not sure about percentages but I know were he is coming from People will vote for a rapist if same caste/religion over a saint from different caste/religion. Educated ones are as backward in this respect as the non educated

The Outsider Newbie

The Outsider

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I have never looked at a candidate based upon caste. Is our generation finally beyond the clutches of caste based politics? I think so. May be the older generation still has some issues' date=' but I think modern India, especially in urban areas, wants to vote for a candidate who is sincere and hard working. It's just that there is scarcity of such politicians.[/quote'] Oh bhai, the "our generation" broad minded people you are talking about represents a very small percentage of India.
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