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Canadian Politician Interferes in Indian Elections
What was white man’s burden is slowly, but surely, evolving as brown person’s burden. How amazing it is that sometimes the most discredited politicians take upon themselves to help and assist in the political game in other countries. Such interference is against law everywhere. And yet some Canadian politicians, particularly of liberal hue cannot get over the urge to restrain themselves. After the unsavory attempt of Dhaliwal and Andrew Kania comes the news that Ruby Dhalla is totally immersed in election campaign in India.
In my article Two Canadian MPs need to be Disciplined (http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-466650) I had clearly written that the tendency of Canadian interference in other countries needs to be curbed. I had written that:
“The 11th of June was a sad day when two parlimentarians clearly set out to inflame passions, spoil relations with a friedly country and indirectly aid, abet and assist those sections of society which swear by values that are anti thetical to canadain values, the groups that aim to create and promote fissiparous tendencies and help in vivisection of a country. On this day Sukh Dhaliwal, MP for Newton-North Delta on the suburbs of Vancouver, was joined by Andrew Kania, MP from the Punjabi-dominant constituency of Brampton West on the outskirts of Toronto, in presenting the motion that calls for declaring the sad events of riots of 1984 as genocide.” On behalf of Canadians, I am here presenting a petition on the tragic events of 1984 in India,” said Dhaliwal, adding that “many Canadians across the country are marking this solemn occasion.”
What should be done so that such inane acts are not repeated? I remember that Government of Sri Lanka had refused to viva to Bob Rae, after his criticism of government on Tamil issue. Indian Government is either spineless or too tolerant. It should put these two MPs on a no fly list and ask the UN to include their names on the list who promote, albeit indirectly, terrorism and fundamentalism. Their action is akin to that of the British MP Galloway, who was denied entry into Canada. At the same time let Michael Ignatieff show some quality of leadership, at least for once and expel these two MPs from the part fro gross indiscipline. I dare him do so.”
Ruby is well known for her close relationship with Akali leadership, especially for very close ties with the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. She has also been reported to be going on campaign spree with one local politician Ramoowalia. I suppose most of the people recollect that NSW Greens MP Jamie Parker has been caught violating Canadian election laws that ban foreigners from meddling in their ballots,
Elections Canada spokesman David Rutherford said the elections act prohibits people who do not reside in the country from participating or encouraging Canadians to vote in a certain way.
Section 331 of the Canada Elections Act states: No person who does not reside in Canada shall, during an election period, in any way induce electors to vote or refrain from voting . . . for a particular candidate unless the person is (a) a Canadian citizen; or (b) a permanent resident.
What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. What is wrong for Canadian system, can not be condoned for Indian system. Cricketer, politician and TV host Navjot Singh Sidhu may be upbeat about winning the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat for a second time but he is also up against a 'foreign hand' for the Feb 13 election. The foreign hand is Toria Jamel - referred to as T.J. - from Ohio in United States. An American, T.J. is campaigning for her Indian father-in-law - Punjab Finance Minister Surinder Singla - as he takes on the might of Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Sidhu for this Lok Sabha by-election on the Congress ticket.
'Aap mere sasurji ko vote dijiye (Please vote for my father-in-law),' is how TJ addresses roadside gatherings in this Sikh holy city and villages and towns around it. She might not be fluent in Hindi, but is able to speak it in her heavily accented tone. The foreigner 'bahu' (daughter-in-law) has been around for a fortnight to boost the campaign for Singla, especially among the womenfolk. And this is precisely the tone that Ruby uses.
In her campaign here she often resorted to the statement that she is daughter of Punjab. This shows extra-territorial loyalty and such loyalities cannot be tolerated.
Even in US there is ban on foreign interference. The ban on political contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals was first enacted in 1966 as part of the amendments to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), an "internal security" statute. The goal of the FARA was to minimize foreign intervention in U.S. elections by establishing a series of limitations on foreign nationals. Free and Fair Elections and Human Rights are cardinal principles of Democracy, the Treaties and Conventions that guarantee the rights to free and fair democratic elections and democracy are amongst the most important areas of development in International Law and International Relations. Election and Democracy complements one another, likewise, no doubt elections remained central to broader strategies for promoting democracy, and genuine democracy definitely requires substantially more than democratic elections.
The cosmopolitan nature of societies and governments within a state made it imperative for societies to devise or evolve a means whereby; Peoples, Nations and States and even Family have to have an organised system of sorting out things for its smooth running. The said system is established through a direct or indirect representation at a certain level and or affairs. More so, it is impossible or unfeasible for an entire people within a Nation, State or Country to engage in governing and or directing the affairs of their state, but rather through representatives selected or elected by the people in accordance with rules and standard laid down by the law or other due process accepted by societies.
The due process of law must be adhered to in order to avoid irregularities and chaos. The systematic process of election or selection will guard against unnecessary tensions and conflicts which could lead to undesirable consequences, hence; the Concept of Free and Fair Democratic Election becomes important within the spheres of both International and Municipal Laws.
The increase in relevance and importance of the Concept made International Community and International Organisations to become more and more involved in the affairs of assistance, organising, and monitoring elections. Free and Fair Election is a direct dividend of “Democracy” and vice-versa, because, “there can only be Free and Fair Election where there is democracy, and there can never be democracy when there is no Free and Fair Election”. However, it is to be noted that, although there are contrary opinion by scholars and researchers on the relationship between free and fair elections and Democracy, but by and large, the conclusion of certain positive analysis and researches conducted proved the veracity and accuracy of the complementary relationship between the two concepts.
Montesquieu while discussing the concept of election in his book: 'The Spirit of Laws', states that; “in the case of elections in either a republic or a democracy, voters alternate between being the rulers of the country and being the subjects of the government. By the act of voting, the people operate in a sovereign (or ruling) capacity, acting as "masters" to select their government's "servants”. These foreign campaigners, by using their clout hamper the process of choosing the servants. And then who knows that political campaign might also be cover for financial assistance. It is high time that Governments of Canada and India take concerted action and try to stop this pernicious practice.
In my article Two Canadian MPs need to be Disciplined (http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-466650) I had clearly written that the tendency of Canadian interference in other countries needs to be curbed. I had written that:
“The 11th of June was a sad day when two parlimentarians clearly set out to inflame passions, spoil relations with a friedly country and indirectly aid, abet and assist those sections of society which swear by values that are anti thetical to canadain values, the groups that aim to create and promote fissiparous tendencies and help in vivisection of a country. On this day Sukh Dhaliwal, MP for Newton-North Delta on the suburbs of Vancouver, was joined by Andrew Kania, MP from the Punjabi-dominant constituency of Brampton West on the outskirts of Toronto, in presenting the motion that calls for declaring the sad events of riots of 1984 as genocide.” On behalf of Canadians, I am here presenting a petition on the tragic events of 1984 in India,” said Dhaliwal, adding that “many Canadians across the country are marking this solemn occasion.”
What should be done so that such inane acts are not repeated? I remember that Government of Sri Lanka had refused to viva to Bob Rae, after his criticism of government on Tamil issue. Indian Government is either spineless or too tolerant. It should put these two MPs on a no fly list and ask the UN to include their names on the list who promote, albeit indirectly, terrorism and fundamentalism. Their action is akin to that of the British MP Galloway, who was denied entry into Canada. At the same time let Michael Ignatieff show some quality of leadership, at least for once and expel these two MPs from the part fro gross indiscipline. I dare him do so.”
Ruby is well known for her close relationship with Akali leadership, especially for very close ties with the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. She has also been reported to be going on campaign spree with one local politician Ramoowalia. I suppose most of the people recollect that NSW Greens MP Jamie Parker has been caught violating Canadian election laws that ban foreigners from meddling in their ballots,
Elections Canada spokesman David Rutherford said the elections act prohibits people who do not reside in the country from participating or encouraging Canadians to vote in a certain way.
Section 331 of the Canada Elections Act states: No person who does not reside in Canada shall, during an election period, in any way induce electors to vote or refrain from voting . . . for a particular candidate unless the person is (a) a Canadian citizen; or (b) a permanent resident.
What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. What is wrong for Canadian system, can not be condoned for Indian system. Cricketer, politician and TV host Navjot Singh Sidhu may be upbeat about winning the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat for a second time but he is also up against a 'foreign hand' for the Feb 13 election. The foreign hand is Toria Jamel - referred to as T.J. - from Ohio in United States. An American, T.J. is campaigning for her Indian father-in-law - Punjab Finance Minister Surinder Singla - as he takes on the might of Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Sidhu for this Lok Sabha by-election on the Congress ticket.
'Aap mere sasurji ko vote dijiye (Please vote for my father-in-law),' is how TJ addresses roadside gatherings in this Sikh holy city and villages and towns around it. She might not be fluent in Hindi, but is able to speak it in her heavily accented tone. The foreigner 'bahu' (daughter-in-law) has been around for a fortnight to boost the campaign for Singla, especially among the womenfolk. And this is precisely the tone that Ruby uses.
In her campaign here she often resorted to the statement that she is daughter of Punjab. This shows extra-territorial loyalty and such loyalities cannot be tolerated.
Even in US there is ban on foreign interference. The ban on political contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals was first enacted in 1966 as part of the amendments to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), an "internal security" statute. The goal of the FARA was to minimize foreign intervention in U.S. elections by establishing a series of limitations on foreign nationals. Free and Fair Elections and Human Rights are cardinal principles of Democracy, the Treaties and Conventions that guarantee the rights to free and fair democratic elections and democracy are amongst the most important areas of development in International Law and International Relations. Election and Democracy complements one another, likewise, no doubt elections remained central to broader strategies for promoting democracy, and genuine democracy definitely requires substantially more than democratic elections.
The cosmopolitan nature of societies and governments within a state made it imperative for societies to devise or evolve a means whereby; Peoples, Nations and States and even Family have to have an organised system of sorting out things for its smooth running. The said system is established through a direct or indirect representation at a certain level and or affairs. More so, it is impossible or unfeasible for an entire people within a Nation, State or Country to engage in governing and or directing the affairs of their state, but rather through representatives selected or elected by the people in accordance with rules and standard laid down by the law or other due process accepted by societies.
The due process of law must be adhered to in order to avoid irregularities and chaos. The systematic process of election or selection will guard against unnecessary tensions and conflicts which could lead to undesirable consequences, hence; the Concept of Free and Fair Democratic Election becomes important within the spheres of both International and Municipal Laws.
The increase in relevance and importance of the Concept made International Community and International Organisations to become more and more involved in the affairs of assistance, organising, and monitoring elections. Free and Fair Election is a direct dividend of “Democracy” and vice-versa, because, “there can only be Free and Fair Election where there is democracy, and there can never be democracy when there is no Free and Fair Election”. However, it is to be noted that, although there are contrary opinion by scholars and researchers on the relationship between free and fair elections and Democracy, but by and large, the conclusion of certain positive analysis and researches conducted proved the veracity and accuracy of the complementary relationship between the two concepts.
Montesquieu while discussing the concept of election in his book: 'The Spirit of Laws', states that; “in the case of elections in either a republic or a democracy, voters alternate between being the rulers of the country and being the subjects of the government. By the act of voting, the people operate in a sovereign (or ruling) capacity, acting as "masters" to select their government's "servants”. These foreign campaigners, by using their clout hamper the process of choosing the servants. And then who knows that political campaign might also be cover for financial assistance. It is high time that Governments of Canada and India take concerted action and try to stop this pernicious practice.
- TAGS:
- breaking_news,
- politicians,
- elections,
- india,
- punjab,
- interference,
- canadian
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