Lok Sabha polls: Two former judges, senior journalist invite PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi for public debate
Former judges Justice Madan Lokur of the Supreme Court and Justice AP Shah of the Delhi HC, along with the former editor of ‘The Hindu’ N Ram, sent the letter.
Justices Madan Lokur and AP Shah, former judges of the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, respectively, along with former editor of The Hindu N Ram on Thursday invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for a public debate amid the Lok Sabha elections.
A public debate on a non-partisan and non-commercial platform would greatly benefit citizens and strengthen the democratic process, the former judges and the journalist said in their letter.
“A public debate such as this would, therefore, set a great precedent, not just by educating the public, but also in projecting the true image of a healthy and vibrant democracy,” it added.
The letter said that the leaders of both Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and Gandhi’s Congress had raised important questions while campaigning for the polls.
“The Prime Minister has publicly challenged the Congress on reservations, Article 370 and wealth redistribution,” it said. “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.”
The letter said that both the parties have asked each other questions about their respective manifestos, as well as their stand on the constitutionally protected scheme of social justice. The former judges and the veteran journalist, however,...
