Former state Election Commissioner warns of internal threats to democracy

VISAKHAPATNAM: The former state election commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar said that internal enemies are the main reason for the weakening of democracy. People in the country are seeking good governance and the fruits of welfare should reach all sections of society equally.

Addressing a round table meeting organized by the Citizens for Democracy here on Wednesday, the former election commissioner said that democracy would be weakened if the public did not franchise their votes. The voting percentage is always very low in urban areas, he said.

He said that the governments should also consider the suggestions and pieces of advice of opposition leaders. By recognizing the constitutional spirit, the government should release funds and duties to the local bodies.

The former Chief Secretary of the state LV Subrahmanyam said that executive, legislative, and judiciary should work strongly with responsibility to spread the values of democracy. He advised people’s representatives should do the required work for the public. “The irony is that the public representatives are having gunmen system to meet the public. We should see an alternative way for the leaders who are making gunmen and police shield to them while meeting the public. Any system would not run on the decision of an individual,” he said.

Former MLC Lakshma Reddy, AU former rector Prof. Prasanna Kumar, former registrar Prof Velagapudi Uma Maheswara Rao, and Prof. B Prasada Rao addressed the meeting and debated on issues related to democracy in the state.