Two former Judges, along with a renowned journalist, have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for a public debate midway through the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Madan Lokur, former Delhi High Court judge Justice AP Shah, along with former Editor of The Hindu N Ram, have written a letter to the Prime Minister and the Congress leader, stating that the proposal was non-partisan and in the larger interest of the nation.
The letter said that a public debate on a non-partisan and non-commercial platform would greatly benefit the citizens and strengthen the democratic process.
It said such a public debate would set a great precedent, not just by educating the public, but also in projecting the true image of a healthy and vibrant democracy.
The former judges and the former Editor said the entire globe was keenly watching the elections currently underway in the world’s largest democracy.
They further said that a public debate such as this would set a great precedent, not just by educating the public, but also in projecting the true image of a healthy and vibrant democracy.
The letter stated that during rallies and public addresses, members of both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) have asked important questions relating to the core of India’s constitutional democracy.
It noted that the Prime Minister has publicly challenged the Congress on reservations, Article 370 and wealth redistribution.
On the other hand, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has questioned the Prime Minister on possible mutilation of the Constitution, Electoral Bond scheme and the government’s response to China, and also challenged him to a public debate.
Both sides have asked each other questions about their respective Manifestos, as well as their stand on the constitutionally protected scheme of social justice, it added.
The former judges and the former Editor said that as members of the public, they were concerned about the allegations and challenges being posed from either side.
Expressing concerns over the lack of meaningful responses from either side, they emphasised the importance of ensuring that the public was well-educated about all aspects of the debate in today’s digital world, which was characterised by misinformation and manipulation.
They said today’s digital world carried with it a propensity for misinformation, misrepresentation, and manipulation. In these circumstances, it was fundamentally important to ensure that the public was well-educated about all aspects of the debate, so that they can make an informed choice at the ballots this is central to the effective exercise of our electoral franchise.
They requested both PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi to participate in this debate on key election issues, suggesting that the venue, duration, moderators and format be mutually agreed upon. They further proposed the option for either leader to nominate a representative if they were unable to attend.