सहमति और असहमति लोकतंत्र के मूल तत्व : प्रणब मुखर्जी

पूर्व राष्ट्रपति प्रणब मुखर्जी ने निर्वाचन आयोग द्वारा आयोजित एक स्मृति व्याख्यान को संबोधित किया. इस मौके पर उन्होंने कहा कि सहमति और असहमति लोकतंत्र के मूल तत्व हैं. बता दें कि निर्वाचन आयोग ने देश के पहले मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त सुकुमार सेन की स्मृति में यह आयोजन किया. पढ़ें पूरी खबर...

प्रणब मुखर्जी

Published : Jan 24, 2020, 4:35 PM IST

Updated : Feb 18, 2020, 6:14 AM IST

नई दिल्ली : पूर्व राष्ट्रपति प्रणब मुखर्जी ने विभिन्न महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दों पर देश में उभरे युवाओं के स्वर का हवाला देते हुए कहा कि सहमति और असहमति लोकतंत्र के मूल तत्व हैं.

मुखर्जी ने निर्वाचन आयोग द्वारा गुरुवार को आयोजित पहले सुकुमार सेन स्मृति व्याख्यान को संबोधित किया. उन्होंने कहा, 'भारतीय लोकतंत्र समय की कसौटी पर हर बार खरा उतरा है. पिछले कुछ महीनों में विभिन्न मुद्दों पर लोग सड़कों पर उतरे, खासकर युवाओं ने इन महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दों पर अपनी आवाज को मुखर किया. संविधान में इनकी आस्था दिल को छूने वाली बात है.'

देश के पहले मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त की स्मृति में किया गया आयोजन

पूर्व राष्ट्रपति ने देश में जारी आंदोलनों से जुड़े किसी मुद्दे का नाम लिए बिना कहा, 'आम राय लोकतंत्र की जीवन रेखा है. लोकतंत्र में सभी की बात सुनने, विचार व्यक्त करने, विमर्श करने, तर्क वितर्क करने और यहां तक कि असहमति का महत्वपूर्ण स्थान है.'

उन्होंने कहा, 'मेरा मानना है कि देश में शांतिपूर्ण आंदोलनों की मौजूदा लहर एक बार फिर हमारे लोकतंत्र की जड़ों को गहरा और मजबूत बनाएगी.' मुखर्जी ने देश में लोकतंत्र के मजबूत आधार का श्रेय भारत में चुनाव की सर्वोच्च मान्यता को देते हुए कहा, 'मेरा विश्वास है कि देश में चुनाव और चुनाव प्रक्रिया को पवित्र एवं सर्वोच्च बनाये रखने के कारण ही लोकतंत्र की जड़ें मजबूत हुई हैं. यह सब भारत के चुनाव आयोग की संस्थागत कार्ययोजना के बिना संभव नहीं होता.'

आयोग ने देश के पहले मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त सुकुमार सेन की स्मृति में पहला व्याख्यान आयोजित किया है. देश में पहली और दूसरी लोकसभा के चुनाव सेन की अगुवाई में ही सफलतापूर्वक संपन्न हुए थे.

पढ़ें-सीएए के विरोध में भाजपा के 80 मुस्लिम नेताओं ने प्राथमिकता सदस्यता छोड़ी

इस अवसर पर मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त सुनील अरोड़ा, चुनाव आयुक्त अशोक लवासा, सुशील चंद्रा के अलावा तमाम पूर्व मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त, चुनाव आयुक्त और अन्य देशों के निर्वाचन अधिकारी मौजूद थे. व्याख्यान को संबोधित करते हुए मुखर्जी ने चुनाव आचार संहिता के महत्व को बरकरार रखने की जरूरत पर भी बल देते हुए कहा कि स्वतंत्र और निष्पक्ष चुनाव के लिए संहिता का निष्ठापूर्वक पालन किया जाना जरूरी है.

कार्यक्रम को संबोधित करते मुख्य निर्वाचन आयुक्त

उन्होंने कहा कि आजादी के बाद से ही निर्वाचन प्रक्रिया को सुदृढ़ बनाने के लिए आयोग द्वारा किये गये कारगर उपायों ने भारत की निर्वाचन प्रणाली को न सिर्फ विश्वसनीय बनाया है बल्कि इसकी साख पूरी दुनिया में स्थापित हुयी है.

देश के पहले मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त की स्मृति में किया गया आयोजन

कार्यक्रम को संबोधित करते मुख्य निर्वाचन आयुक्त

Intro:Body:

Shri Pranab Mukherjee delivers the 1st Sukumar Sen Memorial Lecture hosted by Election Commission of India to mark its 70th year of inception
Reprint of the Report on India's First Election released by Shri Pranab Mukherjee; Postal Stamp in memory of Shri Sukumar Sen unveiled

New Delhi

Election Commission of India organised the 1st Sukumar Sen Memorial Lecture instituted as a tribute to the first Chief Election Commissioner of India. Sh Sen had served as the first Chief Election Commissioner of India from 21st March 1950 till 19th December, 1958.
Former President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee delivered the inaugural lecture on electoral processes of India and challenges of our electoral systems. Sh Mukherjee's lecture highlighted the importance of institutions in our National evolution.
Speaking on the occasion, Sh Mukherjee described Sh Sukumar Sen as "chosen to play obstetrician and to deliver Indian democracy’s first crop of nearly three thousand elected representative. Realising with surprising un-I.C.S. humility that democracy likes its mechanics to be as self-effacing as possible, the Chief Election Commissioner became an unseen, undogmatic influence patiently judicial in his attitude to parties but insistent in regard to the machine he wielded". Sh Mukherjee noted "Free, fair, popular and credible elections are a cornerstone, indeed the life blood of Democracy. Sen, by seamlessly conducting the first two general elections, aided India’s transition from a Crown colony to a sovereign Democratic Republic in practical terms."
Sh Mukherjee recalled that "The Constituent Assembly of India, which prepared the Constitution, had intensely debated the issue of universal adult franchise. It had unhesitatingly adopted the principle of adult suffrage with the full knowledge of the difficulties involved." The Former president said "The foremost achievement of the First General Election lies in the fact that it cemented and painstakingly brought about unification of India". Indian democracy and its inherent power of assimilation has successfully thwarted insurgency and separate movements and elections have successfully co-opted varied groups into the electoral mainstream, he stated. "Indian Democracy has been tested time and again. Consensus is the lifeblood of Democracy. Democracy thrives on listening, deliberating, discussing, arguing and even dissent. Enthusiastic participation of people in the electoral process is the key to healthy democracy", he underlined.
Speaking about the role of Election Commission, Sh Pranab Mukhejee said, "In my opinion, the Election Commission of India, respected and revered by the people and feared by the participants of elections, has mostly stood the test of time. The role of the Election Commission in the practical play of democracy in India has been simply outstanding. The challenges it has had to face have been daunting. The management of an electorate of over 900 million in 2019 that is nearly the combined population of third, fourth and fifth largest nations in the world, and ensuring fair polling is not an easy job. I compliment the Election Commission for this laudable achievement."
Taking note of some of the challenges that our electoral system faces, Sh Mukherjee spoke of embargo on the sanctioning and implementation of developmental projects; Disproportionately large size of the electorate vis-à-vis the number of public representatives as also adequate representation of women in Parliament and the Assemblies that has emerged as a major area of concern. Highlighting the importance of institutions, Sh Mukherjee complemented "If democracy has succeeded, its largely due to the perfect conduct of elections by all Election Commissioners starting from Sukumar Sen to the present Election Commissioners". There can be no room for speculation that challenges the very basis of our democracy. People's mandate is sacrosanct and has to be above any iota of reasonable doubt, he emphasized.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Chief Election Commissioner Sh Sunil Arora said "Election Commission of India is indebted to Shri Pranab Mukherjee for kindly agreeing to deliver the First Sukumar Sen Memorial Lecture. There could not be a harmonious combination of theme and the speaker for this evening - a savant and a rajrishi". Shri Mukherjee, is considered a living encyclopedia of political, constitutional and historical matters. He was honoured with Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 2019 for his distinguished contribution to public affairs. "Shri Mukherjee, as President of the republic, had addressed ECI's National Voters Day event twice in 2016 and 2017. We are delighted to have him back to deliver the inaugural Sukumar Sen Memorial Lecture", Sh Arora added. He also elaborated that the objective of this lecture is to make a positive intervention in the democratic and electoral discourse, within the ambit of the Constitutional mandate of the Election Commission of India. ECI wishes to involve a wide cross-section of people including political parties, leading constitutionalists, legal luminaries, academicians, civil society activists in it. He also remembered Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 123rd birth anniversary today.
Shri Ashok Lavasa, Election Commissioner welcomed the gathering and Shri Sushil Chandra, Election Commissioner thanked the audience on this momentous occasion.
It may be recalled that Sh Sukumar Sen commendably conducted the first two Lok Sabha elections of India held in 1952 and 1957 simultaneously with the Legislative Assembly Elections based on universal adult franchise under challenging circumstances and little precedence to guide him. On this occasion a reprint of the Report on India's First Election was released by Shri Pranab Mukherjee as also a postal stamp in memory of Shri Sukumar Sen was unveiled. It is proposed that every year a leading figure, whether from India or abroad, who had made a recognizable contribution in furthering democracy, would be invited to deliver the lecture.
Th lecture was attended by Mr. Sen’s family members, grandchildren Dr Asis Mukerjee, Mrs Shyamali Mukerjee, Sanjiv Sen, Sonali Sen, Debdatta Sen, Sujaya Sen and great grandchildren Aditya Vikram Sen, Arjun Veer Sen as also a wide cross section of invitees from National Political Parties, Members of the Academia, Civil Society Organisations, senior civil servants, media persons as also the international delegates who have gathered in New Delhi to attend the 10th Annual Meeting of The Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) & an International Conference on ‘Strengthening Institutional Capacity’ being hosted by ECI on 24th of January 2020.

Conclusion:https://youtu.be/VlmDEkiWEcA

Selected media was invited at event on Thursday, sharing link of speech and event.

Also attached stills shared by Election Commission of India.

Last Updated : Feb 18, 2020, 6:14 AM IST

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