Continuous elections obstacle in country’s growth: Chouhan

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today advocated 'one nation, one election' in the country and called upon the nation to start a public awareness to force the political parties to go for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously.

He was here in Kurukshetra to attend the ‘Vaishvik Gita Path’, in which 18,000 students together recited 18 ‘shlokas’ from 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita, organised as part of the International Gita Mahotsav at Keshav Park (Theme Park).

About 1.5 crore people from various countries were connected with the event online and recited the shalokas. Chouhan said: “Every student sitting here can do great work in future, hence we should aim big so that we do extraordinary work instead of living an ordinary life. The country is moving ahead at a rapid pace under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Undoubtedly, India will become world leader soon but continuous elections are an obstacle in the development of the country.”

“Preparations for elections remain on throughout the five years. After the Lok Sabha elections, we saw Assembly elections in Haryana, Jammu Kashmir, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, and now we are getting ready for the election in Delhi. Then there will be elections in Bihar and other states. All political parties keep preparing for the elections all five years, due to which the public welfare and development works take a back seat. The leaders of all parties focus on the election. From MLAs to ministers and Prime Minister, all get engaged in the preparations of the elections,” the Union Minister said.

Terming separate elections a waste of time, he said: “I am the Agriculture Minister, but I remained busy in elections. It is a waste of time for the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and ministers, MPs, officials and employees. During the elections, new promises are made and there is a heavy expenditure too. The money spent by the Election Commission is also public money and then the parties also spend money.”

He further added: “During the elections in other states, officials from Haryana will be deputed as observers affecting the work here... by making an amendment to the Constitution, the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections should be conducted simultaneously for which we should start public awareness. We should take a pledge from the land of Kurukshetra, and it will force the parties for simultaneous election so that the development works are not affected.”

He praised Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini for the decision of procurement of crops on MSP and said “The decision taken for welfare of farmers in Haryana, has motivated other states too.” However, he avoided making any comment on the ongoing farmers' agitation on the Haryana-Punjab interstate border at Shambhu.

Saini said: “The first and most significant message of the Gita is that every individual should follow their dharma and duty in life. If each person in society fulfills his duties with loyalty and dedication, it will maintain discipline and balance within the community. Every person should imbibe the teachings of the Gita in their lives and it will help us in developing a stable and peaceful society.”

Saini declared a special holiday on Thursday for school students who participated in the Gita Path in Kurukshetra. The Chief Minister announced to change the name of Theme Park to Keshav Park.

IGM country partner Tanzania, Tourism Minister Pindi Chana, State Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana, Swami Gyananand, and several officials were present during the event.