Fair and transparent elections essential for a stronger democracy, says Krishna Byre Gowda
Speaking after hoisting the national flag in Hassan on Friday, Mr. Krishna Gowda, who is also the Minister in charge of Hassan district, said that India's freedom was a result of the sacrifice made by many people. The people of the nation were being governed in a democratic setup as a result of the long fight against the British, he added.
'Elections are the pillars of a democratic system. Democracy remains strong only when the elections are held in a transparent manner. Today, however, many questions are being raised about the way elections are held,' Mr. Byre Gowda stated.
The Minister said that every Indian would want the Election Commission to act in a non-partisan manner and hold elections transparently. 'We can retain our independence only if elections are held justly and transparently. Otherwise, we will lose our freedom. Such a thing should not happen. We should be alert and ensure democracy remains strong', he said.
Further, Mr. Byre Gowda said that although the country had achieved progress in many fields since Independence, there was still a long way to go. 'The freedom we got will be meaningful only when the gap between the rich and the poor is bridged. However, in recent years, the gap has been widening, and the working class is not getting the share it deserves. On the other hand, only a handful of rich people are accumulating a large scale of wealth. The resources of the nation and its income should be shared equally with every individual,' he opined.
Mr. Byre Gowda highlighted that the State government had implemented the five guarantee schemes to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. The guarantee schemes also helped in improving the State's GDP per capita, he said.
Lok Sabha member Shreyas M. Patel, MLA for Hassan Swaroop Prakash, Mayor for Hassan Chandre Gowda, Deputy Commissioner K.S. Latha Kumari, Superintendent of Police Mohammed Sujeetha, Zilla Panchayat CEO B.R. Poornima, and others were present. Mr. Byre Gowda felicitated achievers from different fields at the event. As many as 38 platoons that included policemen, NCC cadets, home guards, and schoolchildren took part in the march past on the occasion.
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