Gandhi Declines Premiership

[Michael]

The legal reasons listed in that article seem mighty flimsy, but I'm not an Indian Constitutional lawyer.

Michael

 

[civad]

The legal reasons listed in that article seem mighty flimsy, but I'm not an Indian Constitutional lawyer.

I dont think the legal reasons are flimsy: there are some valid points there. ( Like Michael, I'm not an Indian Constitutional Lawyer either).

"A person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of either House of Parliament" on any or more of five possible grounds. Clause(d) of the same Article says "... or is under any acknowledgement of allegiance or adherence to a foreign state".

If she still hasnt surrendered her Italian passport, she can be disqualified.

It is believed that while acquiring citizenship through registration in 1983, she surrendered her Italian passport to the Italian Ambassador in New Delhi but did not obtain a formal notification from the Italian Government that her citizenship of that country had been cancelled.

Uhm.. she had 21 years to get that notification...

Another point that came in the way of Ms Gandhi was Section 5 of the Citizenship Act. Under this, there is a reciprocity provision whereby citizenship granted by India to persons of foreign origin is circumscribed by the rights that particular country confers upon foreigners seeking citizenship there.

The crux of this provision of "reciprocity" is that a person of foreign origin, who has acquired the citizenship of India through registration by virtue of marrying an Indian national, cannot enjoy more rights (like becoming Prime Minister), if the same opportunity is not available to an Indian-born citizen in that particular country.

Can an Indian be the PM of Italy? I dont think so.

p.s: Singh, thanks for posting that link...

 

[Michael]

Civad - The "adherence" reason was listed as her owning a house in Italy thus making her subject to Italian laws. Very weak link. Would owning stock in an Italian company count as well?

Her still being an Italian citizen is stronger, but this is conjecture.

Michael

ps - I am by no means a supporter of the congress party. Their anti-business policies are probably directly responsible for India being far behind China in terms of development even though the base workforce and the rule of law in India being stronger is probably much more attractive for Western companies

 

[Infohawk]

Since India is so rarely discussed on this board I would like to take this opportunity to applaud India for being the world's largest democracy. Despite deep divides in their society they have preserved democracy. It is terrible that the US still prefers Pakistan in its foreign policy when next door there is a great democracy.

I only hope that India does not go too far down the nationalist road like, alas, America has recently and like other democracies have. India has a chance to be a world leader. It can do this by being embracing pluralism and not by having a party that aims to serve one group of people.

 

[civad]

only hope that India does not go too far down the nationalist road like, alas, America has recently and like other democracies have. India has a chance to be a world leader. It can do this by being embracing pluralism and not by having a party that aims to serve one group of people.

Infohawk, your comments are greatly appreciated, and I just hope that situation arises before I die

 

[Michael]

Infohawk - The USA doesn't "prefer" Pakistan.

You are correct that India has been a democracy for a long time and has preserved this even through internal violence.

Michael

 

[GroundedSailor]

Read through this thread & here's my 2 bits

1. Most modern countries bar citizens by naturalization (as opposed to by birth) from holding high office. Here in US holders of the top 3 posts are required to be born citizens (President Vice Prez & speaker) In fact the President "must be at least 35 years old, must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.". And in event of the President being incapacitated, whoever takes over - no matter how far down the line of succession - must fulfill those requirements.

2. Indian law does have provisions to bar naturalized citizens from holding the highest offices in the country. Read bottom paragraphs in link in Singhs post.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=front%5Fpage&file_name=story1%2Etxt&counter_img=1

3. Yes it is true that Sonia became an Indian citizen in 1983 or 84 ? but that was after living in the country for nearly 20 years as the wife of the son of the sitting Prime Minister. It is only when her husband followed his mother and was actively involved in politics as a minister did she switch nationalities. Even at that time her nationality was becoming a political issue but died when she became an Indian citizen.

4. Civad's observation on the demographics of politics in India is very astute:

Originally posted by: civad
In India, there are four options to choose:
a. BJP, etc: so-called right wing fundamentalist; *more or less* clear agenda on national issues.
b. Cong. (I) , etc: bunch of nitwits who did no good for the country during the 45 odd years when they were in power. Guided largely by socialist ( read: almost leftist) principles
c. The Left (communists)
d. A whole bunch of small, regional, single-digit MP (member of parliament) parties who see nothing beyond their short-term interests, at any cost.

I think the Indian President is right to question and examine the legal and constitutional issues involved in her becoming the Prime Minister.

There is also no doubt that this issue could polarize the Indian population and she has been wise to avoid that. It is also a sad fact that there are enough fanatics there who would pose a danger to her if she became the PM.

 

[Infohawk]

Michael, I think historically the US government has provided a lot of support for Pakistan and providing less to India (weapons for example). It makes matters worse that Pakistan and India were ennemies the whole time. Who did we think Pakistan would use the weapons against? And I know the cold war was the justification but I don't think that is legitimate. When one has a democracy and a non-democracy, you support the democracy (unless you have an undermined democracy based on religion like Israel does).

 

[civad]

It seems her ladyship has made a speech

Full text of Sonia Gandhi's speech

May 18, 2004 20:50 IST

Following is the text of Sonia Gandhi's address to Congress Parliamentary Party meeting in Delhi on Tuesday evening where she announced her decision not to accept the prime minister's post.

Friends,

Throughout these past six years that I have been in politics, one thing has been clear to me. And that is, as I have often stated, that the post of prime minister is not my aim.

I was always certain that if ever I found myself in the position that I am in today, I would follow my own inner voice. Today, that voice tells me I must humbly decline this post.

You have unanimously elected me your leader, in doing so, you have reposed your faith in me. It is this faith that has placed me under tremendous pressure to reconsider my decision. Yet, I must abide by the principles, which have guided me all along.

Power in itself has never attracted me, nor has position been my goal.

My aim has always been to defend the secular foundation of our nation and the poor of our country- the creed sacred to Indiraji and Rajivji.

We have moved forward a significant step towards this goal. We have waged a successful battle. But we have not won the war. That is a long and arduous struggle, and I will continue it with full determination.

But I appeal to you to understand the force of my conviction. I request you to accept my decision and to recognise that I will not reverse it.

Our foremost responsibility at this critical time is to provide India with a secular government that is strong and stable.

Friends, you have given me your generous support; you have struggled against all odds with me. As one of you and as president of the Congress party, I pledge myself to work with you and for the country. My resolve will in fact be all the more firm, to fight for our principles, for our vision, and for our ideals.

Link

 

[Michael]

InfoHawk - India specifically made a decision to align with the USSR as a balance against "Western Imperialism" - born out of them splitting from the UK. Many of the weapons they bought were from the USSR. Pakistan made a decision to oppose Russia and obtained many of their weapons from the USA.

That said, India has long enjoyed good relations with both the UK and the USA. The USA has long recognized that India is a democracy and have worked with India on many issues.

Michael

 

[DotheDamnTHing]

many say she resigned for a lack of skill but it it is necessary to seperate the two problems inexperience and ethnicity

 

[zzzz]

1) Anyone who thinks congress party (the one headed by Gandhi) is secular need to ask some Sikhs about their opinion about the 1984 riots.
2) The only reason she is head of the party is because she was wife of R. Gandhi. No experience. This is probably because the congress party does not have any "marketable" personalities beyond her.

 

[LocutusX]

Wow, the level of ignorance regarding India, on a forum bearing the Indian name "Anand", is just astounding!

Anyways, it's amazing how White Westerners are quick to defend Sonia without having any real understanding or appreciation of the issues involved with such a complex political beast as India.

It is also worth mentioning that unlike most Western states, India is NOT an explicitly multicultural or heterogenous society despite whether YOU think they should be.

zzzz's points about Congress not being secular are very astute. Go research how Indira Gandhi was killed.

Finally, the BJP has been the best thing to happen to India since the economic reforms of Congressite Manmohan Singh in the early 90's. I'm glad that India has made many leftists' lists of countries to apply Liberal HATE(tm) towards (along with all the European/White countries). Notice how leftists will now cheerfully attack India (with the same amount of vitriol they used to reserve for just White countries) while still defending to poor unfortunates in the Middle-East and Africa. Great job, Indians! Keep building those call centres and software parks! If the leftists and commies hate you, you're doing something right! And keep stealing IT jobs from fat lazy Americans with an SUV and a home in the suburbs! I'm sick of reading their whiny-ass messages on Internet forums... oops!

Anyways, I'm glad that damn opera singer has decided not to become PM. Manmohan Singh will be a much better choice, by far. The investors won't desert India (hopefully the Mumbai Stock Exchange will recover from that terrible damage it suffered just 2 days ago) and maybe he's good enough at playing the political game to keep those bloodsucking Commies at bay.