Tel minister questions 'absurd' poll expenditure limits

Telangana IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao today said India is a "hypocritical" country when it comes to "electoral financing", and suggested a "practical view" in this regard by the Election Commission.
Observing the current poll spending limits in the country are "absurd", Rao, the son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, hoped the spending in polls should be left to contestants on the lines of the US.
Rao was speaking at an interactive session at the function where Kasturi & Sons chairman N Ram's book "Why Scams are here to Stay" was launched.
He said some of the systems that are followed in the US in various elections such as presidential, senatorial and Congressional, are better as far as funding limit is concerned.

"At this point of time, we are a hypocritical nation when it comes to election financing, when it comes to a lot of things....But the fact of the matter is the kind of spending limits they (India) have set up are at the best absurd. That is the fact of matter. In fact, the more practical view needs to be taken by the Election Commission of India. More practical view needs to be taken by the Government of India," he said.
"(If) somebody has the ability to raise money like in the US, like American president or a senator or a Congressman, why we are hypocritical about it when you know that they (contestants) are spending anyway, why have you been hypocritical about it?" the minister asked.

He said awareness about corruption and its adverse impact on the society should be taught at the school-level and sensitisation should be done at the grassroots levels.
At the beginning of the session, he said all the views expressed by him are his personal opinion.
He said with the use of technology in governance, corruption can be reduced.