BJP member opposes private member bill of party colleague

A private member bill of a BJP member proposing compulsory voting was today opposed by his fellow party man in the Lok Sabha, who said such a measure has not helped increase turnout anywhere in the world.
The bill was introduced by Janardan Singh 'Sigriwal' of BJP but his party colleague Nishikant Dubey said compulsory voting has not increased the participation of people in electoral process.
He said out of 20 countries which had introduced compulsory voting, several have withdrawn and few are thinking in the same direction.
India has 80 crore voters and it would not be possible to issue show cause notices to those not exercising franchise, the BJP member said.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress) said unlike the US and other European nations, India is an evolving democracy and would have to device its own ways to deal with the problems concerning low turnout at hustings.
He said Belgium introduced compulsory voting in 1892, Argentina in 1912 and Australia in 1924.

The Congress MP said rather than enforcing compulsory voting, persuasive measures should be taken in this regard.
Opposing the Bill, Congress MP from Arunachal Pradesh said enforcing it would not be feasible.
Citing an example of his state whose population is around 13 million and areas is about 83,743 sq km, Erring said there are places like Dibang Valley which are inaccesible and people, at times, take two days to reach the polling booths.

Supporting the legislation BJP MP Maheish Girri said steps should be taken to ensure that agencies that give voters card, do it on time.