HYDERABAD: On a day when nearly 63 percent of citizens in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) stayed away from casting their vote in GHMC elections, Cyberabad police commissioner VC Sajjanar on Tuesday night said that system should be reformed where in a citizen should be disqualified to enjoy the benefits of different government welfare schemes, if he/she do not vote in a election.
Speaking to TOI Sajjanar said that it is his personal opinion as he is disappointed with the voter turn over in GHMC election.
"A person who has not been responsible enough to step out of the comforts of his home to vote atleast once in 5 years, has no right to seek welfare schemes from the government nor he should have the right to question demanding development. All the benefits enjoyed by citizens shall be linked to their vote. With such a low voter turnout, it clearly defeats the concept of democracy," commissioner said in a press note.
According to him, a large number of government officials and others have come together to facilitate the public to elect their representatives but the low public turnout defeated their effort.
In this election, an intense campaign was conducted by all the mainstream political parties with a large number of people attending the political rallies and public meetings but on polling day, a significant number of people stayed away.
"On the day of election citizens motto must be vote first - everything next," Sajjanar opined.