44 mins ago

Kapil Sibal Calls Himself ‘Dimagi Naxal,’ Criticizes Horse Trading

Kapil Sibal Calls Himself ‘Dimagi Naxal,’ Criticizes Horse Trading
I am a ‘Dimagi Naxal’: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal · theprint.in

Kapil Sibal gave a speech about horse trading and democracy in Kochi.

He jokingly called himself a “Dimagi Naxal.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had used that phrase for people he said were influencing the system in harmful ways.

Modi had also asked citizens to identify and isolate them.

Sibal said horse trading means trying to buy or persuade elected representatives.

He compared it with old stories about people using tricks when selling horses.

He said this practice can change the result that voters intended.

In his view, that makes horse trading a serious problem for democracy and the Constitution.

Key facts

Speaker
Kapil Sibal, Rajya Sabha MP
Event
Talk titled “Horse Trade and Democracy”
Location
Kochi
Date
Sunday, September 13; year not specified
Term discussed
“Dimagi Naxal,” a term attributed to Narendra Modi
Sibal’s characterization
Horse trading is a constitutional crisis, not merely a political scandal
Examples cited
Cash, office, protection from investigation and a merger

Quotes

Kapil Sibal

Rajya Sabha MP speaking at a Kochi event

“Horse trading is an ugly phrase for an uglier practice. It is the organised purchase or inducement of elected representatives so that a majority manufactured after the election replaces a majority chosen by the people.”
m.rediff.com
“It has now taken a different colour. At that point in time, it was the seller who used to be the trickster. At this point in time, it is the buyer who is the trickster. That is the difference.”
m.rediff.com theprint.in

Sources

Related news