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ABC News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Nationals MP Anne Webster drops request for protection orders against One Nation supporter
National Party MP Anne Webster and her husband Philip Webster have dropped a request for personal safety intervention orders against a One Nation supporter after an altercation at a Mildura car show. The Mildura Magistrate's Court put interim orders in place in April barring One Nation supporter Dean Lampard from contacting or approaching the Websters until Mr Lampard could obtain a lawyer. On Friday, the Victorian Solicitor General's Office dropped the application, saying it was unlikely to be approved. Magistrate Patrick Southey told the court Mr Lampard had made "nonsense" allegations against the Websters of corruption and paedophilia. "[They] were offensive, defamatory, crackpot, conspiracy theory allegations that hold no basis whatsoever," Magistrate Patrick Southey told the court. "If there was any shred of truth, [Anne Webster] wouldn't be a Member of Parliament and [Philip Webster] wouldn't be a doctor." Mr Lampard's lawyer Jamie Griffin said there was no evidence to suggest Mr Lampard's allegations against the Websters were "crackpot" or "conspiracy theory'. The court heard Mr Lampard made the accusations against the Websters when he went to Anne Webster's Mildura office on March 1. The court heard on that occasion, she did not like what was said by Mr Lampard and asked him to leave. Six weeks later, on Good Friday, Dr Webster's husband approached Mr Lampard at a car show with two of her staff and a security guard. Mr Griffin previously told the court there was "a conversation and pushing and shoving", with Mr Webster shoving Mr Lampard. He said there were no allegations of assault or threats by his client at the car show, and that he left of his own accord. "How can it be said that Mr Webster has any fear at all when he approaches my client, assaults my client, and my client leaves?" he asked the court. The court heard Mr Griffin contested the legitimacy of the interim orders that he described as baseless and without proof of criminal conduct. Mr Griffin told the court he found it questionable that a senior detective at Mildura Police Station brought the application to court in the first place. "It's exceptional that a matter like this, first of all, is prosecuted by a senior detective where there is no crime alleged here," Mr Griffin told the court. "The base of the claim is that there is a chance Mr Lampard may, in the future, make some other comment or approach Ms Webster." The media was denied a copy of the affidavit supporting the allegations made by the Websters against Mr Lampard because "it was protected information". Magistrate Southey told the court he believed the application for the interim orders had been made in good faith, despite them being withdrawn. "Is that largely because it's unlikely you can prove there is an ongoing likelihood of misbehaviour, is that the reason?" Magistrate Patrick Southey asked the lawyer for the Websters. Solicitor for the government, Nadia Deltondo, replied, "There are a number of reasons that unfortunately I can't answer." An application to have the Websters pay Mr Lampard's court costs was refused. Dr Webster retained the seat of Mallee in the May election with a slight swing toward her, in what is considered a safe seat. She was elevated three weeks ago to shadow minister for regional development, local government and territories and shadow minister for regional communications. The Websters were not in court for Friday's hearing.
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Though Cong opposes ‘One Nation One Election' Bill, we gave opinion to Parl panel: Himachal CM
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said that the party opposes One Nation, One Election. He said this at the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, pertaining to the proposal of One Nation-One Election, held at Fagu. Giving details, the chief minister said, 'The meeting was chaired by Member of Parliament PP Chaudhary. We were invited to share our personal and party's views on One Nation, One Election. The speaker, deputy speaker, and other stakeholders are also being called. As elected representatives, we believe it is our duty to participate in such democratic discussions.' 'Our stand is clear, we oppose One Nation, One Election. However, we gave inputs to strengthen democratic structures. We raised practical concerns what happens when a government collapses mid-term, or an MLA resigns? How will tenures align?' he said. 'If the proposal is to hold all elections in 2029, but our state elections are due in 2027, will those be deferred by two years? These are significant constitutional challenges that need thorough deliberation' Sukhu added while thanking the committee members for visiting Himachal and sharing the draft bill and scope of the proposal. People want One Nation, One Election: Chaudhary 'People want One Nation, One Election , it's not just a political issue, it's a national issue,' said Bharatiya Janata Party MP PP Chaudhary. 'In every state we visit, civil society, scholars, Padma awardees, and even those in Congress-ruled states have shown overwhelming support to one Nation One election,' said Chaudhary, while adding, 'Separate elections mean separate voter lists, multiple deployments, school closures for polling, and repeated election expenditure.' He said that the simultaneous elections were the norm until 1967, which changed only after 1970 due to early dissolution of assemblies. 'No political party can ignore the will of the people. If citizens demand it, even parties that oppose the idea may reconsider,' said Chaudhary. One Nation, One Election would be significant for hill states: Thakur Member of the committee and former Union minister Anurag Thakur said that One Nation, One Election would be significant for hill states like Himachal Pradesh. 'Simultaneous elections save time, money, and reduce disruption especially in hill states' said Anurag. 'The Joint Committee is rightly meeting political leaders, media, and intellectuals to gather diverse perspectives. Students and youth have shown great interest. If this bill becomes law, it can accelerate development and strengthen our democracy.' He said. Basic structure of Constitution must not be altered: Pathnia Himachal assembly speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said, 'The basic structure of constitution must not be altered. The Constitution already provides for five-year terms for both Parliament and state legislatures. But mid-term elections and breakdowns in governance have disrupted that structure. This committee is exploring whether we can return to that stability.' People want elections held together: Jai Ram Thakur Former chief minister and leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said, 'The One Nation, One Election bill is a bold move. Political parties may have different opinion but the public sentiment is clear in favour of one nation one election.' 'Our party fully supports it. We believe it should be implemented as soon as possible,' added Jai Ram.
India Gazette
16 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Political parties divided on 'One Nation, One Election'; people support the idea: BJP's Jai Ram Thakur
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 20 (ANI): The Joint Committee on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024, currently on a nationwide consultation tour, visited Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday as part of its outreach to gather state-level feedback on the One Nation, One Election proposal. While political parties remain divided, ruling and opposition voices in Himachal shared their perspectives with the committee. The delegation, chaired by senior BJP MP PP Chaudhary, includes Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur. They were joined by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy CM, and Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, who engaged in a detailed discussion with the committee before addressing the media. The speaker of the HP Assembly, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, said that while one nation, one election is the need of the hour, the basic structure of the constitution must not be altered. 'Basic structure of the Constitution must not be altered', he said. Himachal Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania offered a cautiously analytical viewpoint, stressing that while the concept of simultaneous elections is not new, implementing it now would require serious constitutional introspection. 'The Constitution already provides for five-year terms for both Parliament and State Legislatures. But mid-term elections and breakdowns in governance have disrupted that structure. This committee is exploring whether we can return to that stability,' said Pathania. He pointed out that the 1952 elections were held simultaneously across India, and the current proposal is essentially a restoration attempt. However, he raised key constitutional concerns. 'Can an amendment curtail the tenure of a democratically elected Assembly, as proposed? If we can shorten the term, can we also extend it? Would this violate the basic structure of the Constitution?' He questioned. He stressed that while the reform could bring stability, it must not tamper with foundational constitutional principles. 'Mid-term elections, whether in Parliament, Assemblies or municipal bodies, consume time and resources. But any new system must remain in harmony with the Constitution's fundamentals,' he added. Addressing reporters after the meeting, former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur welcomed the proposed legislation, stating that the people of India overwhelmingly support simultaneous elections. 'People want elections held together', said Jai Ram Thakur. 'The One Nation, One Election bill is a bold and much-needed move. It may spark differing opinions among parties, but the public sentiment is clear--they want elections to happen together, in states and at the national level, so that governments can focus on governance without constant poll disruptions,' Thakur added. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for advancing a difficult but necessary reform. 'It is the nature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take on complex, bold initiatives that others only talk about. No one had the courage to take this forward until now. I congratulate the PM for bringing this bill forward,' he said. He expressed confidence that the bill, currently with the Joint Committee, will be enacted soon. 'This is not just the desire of the Centre, but also the sentiment of Himachal Pradesh. Our party fully supports the bill. We believe it should be implemented as soon as possible.' He added. Addressing concerns over whether elections for Parliament and state Assemblies could always align exactly, he acknowledged some challenges. 'Yes, there are exceptional situations where terms won't align perfectly. However, to achieve something big, some compromises are needed. Some Assemblies may have to lose a few months of tenure, and that's being deliberated,' he added. He also recommended a more uniform legislative structure across states. 'I also suggested that either all states should have Legislative Councils or none at all. This inconsistency should be addressed,' he added, noting that the committee took this recommendation seriously. Thakur criticised the opposition for opposing the bill purely from a party-interest perspective. 'We must now think about the nation's interest, not just party advantage. Repeated elections waste time and public money. We must welcome this reform,' he said. Jai Ram Thakur thanked the Union Government for Rs 2,006 crore in disaster relief to Himachal Pradesh. Thakur expressed gratitude to the Union Government for releasing Rs 2006.40 crore under disaster relief and restoration efforts following the devastating floods in 2023. 'Earlier, some claimed that the Centre had not helped Himachal after the floods. But now the state has received around Rs 2,000 crore from NDRF and SDRF. I thank Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi for granting Rs 2,006 crore, which includes Rs 533 crore already released and the rest to come,' he said. He called out the Congress government for failing to ensure proper distribution of aid. 'Despite this substantial help, eligible beneficiaries still haven't received the full benefits. This raises serious questions. The aid should reach the right people, not just a few,' Thakur said. 'Congress's habit is to show ingratitude. Even when help arrives, they downplay it or shift the goalposts,' he said. Thakur, on the controversy over the Agriculture minister's resignation rumours, said that if a senior minister has to reach this state, it makes us understand the bad state of the government. On the social media post by Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar's son, which claimed that the minister will be resigning. 'This only shows the internal state of Congress. If even their senior-most leader is treated this way, imagine how the government is being run.' He said. Thakur also clarified and responded to criticism that his comments on the SDM in Paonta Sahib were communal. 'I did not say anything targeting any religion or institution. Some people are just trying to drag my name unnecessarily. I spoke responsibly, and those chanting slogans should also maintain dignity,' he said. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Haryana CM Saini extends support to ‘One Nation, One Election' move
The Haryana government on Monday extended in-principle support to 'One Nation, One Election' initiative, saying that its effective implementation will yield multi-dimensional benefits for the country, chief minister Nayab Singh Saini said during a meeting with the joint parliamentary committee. Stating that 'One Nation, One Election' is a vital part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visionary concept of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat', Saini said that this is not just a slogan but a national approach towards a strong and coordinated democracy. Speaking on the occasion, Saini said that the implementation of 'One Nation, One Election' will bring significant reforms to the democratic system. The joint parliamentary committee is on a study tour regarding the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territory Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The chairman of committee and MP, PP Chaudhary, along with several other members, was present on the occasion. Saini said that frequent elections hinder development work, as the administrative machinery remains engaged in the election process, directly affecting the general public. Citing Haryana as an example, he said that the state has undergone three major elections within the past year-- Lok Sabha elections from March to June 2024, the assembly elections from August to October, and the municipal elections from February to March 2025. He said that due to the imposition of the model code of conduct during these elections, the pace of development was disrupted. The administration was preoccupied with election duties, and the public had to bear the consequences. Moreover, the expenditure incurred on elections is also very high, said Saini. The chief minister said that 'One Nation, One Election' will not only save resources but will also reflect the people's sentiment that elections should be held simultaneously to avoid wastage of time and money. This would also increase public participation in the democratic process. Therefore, everyone should unanimously support this initiative, he said. He suggested that while deciding election dates, socio-cultural factors like agricultural seasons, festivals, wedding seasons, holidays, etc., should be considered to ensure maximum voter participation. Saini said that frequent elections reduce voter enthusiasm, which negatively impacts voter turnout. 'If elections are held once every five years, it will generate renewed enthusiasm among voters, thereby strengthening democracy and enhancing public participation,' he said. He added that 'One Nation, One Election' would make it possible to hold elections to both the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies simultaneously. This would ensure uniformity in voter awareness campaigns, better coordination in administrative preparations, and optimal use of resources, said the chief minister. Haryana BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli, Haryana chief electoral officer (CEO) Pankaj Agarwal, and other dignitaries were also present on this occasion.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Punjab political leaders against ‘One Nation, One Election' proposal
The 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) proposal promoted by the BJP-led Central government, which seeks to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State/Union Territory Legislative Assemblies, has sparked significant debate in Punjab amid concerns over weakening of federalism, regional autonomy and democratic principles. On June 14, members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on ONOE met leaders of political parties of the State in Chandigarh. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Indian National Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) firmly expressed their reservations to the proposal and opposed the idea of ONOE. The SAD, a century-old party, highlighted several concerns and pointed out that the proposed Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, would weaken the State's autonomy. 'The Bill would cause more harm than improvement. Article 356 was the root cause of the disruption of simultaneous elections in the country. In case Article 356 is not done away with, the election schedule would be disrupted again, so what's the point of this Bill? Also, the insertion of Article 82 A clause 5 empowers the Election Commission of India to defer elections to Legislative Assemblies. This can be misused against opposition parties anytime,' it said. Opposing the idea of ONOE, the Congress's leaders, including State president Amarinder Singh and Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, presented the party's case before the committee. 'One Nation, One Election goes against the basic concept of federalism that has been guaranteed by the Constitution of India,' the State president said, pointing out that parliamentary and Assembly elections were held on entirely different issues. 'The idea of imposing simultaneous elections to Parliament and the State Assemblies will mean imposing dictatorship by default. The regional and local issues that gain prominence during the Assembly elections will be ignored and suppressed. The regional and local aspirations will get muzzled down,' Mr. Singh said. Strong objections The ruling AAP in Punjab raised strong objections to ONOE, terming it 'a direct assault on the fundamental structure and spirit of the Constitution of India'. Pointing out that the proposed Bill would effectively render the tenures of State Assemblies subject to the discretion of the Union government, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the BJP's attempt was an alarming overreach incompatible with the federal framework enshrined in the Constitution. Mr. Cheema said the proposals in the Bill would destabilise the balance of power essential to India's democratic fabric. 'The One Nation, One Election Bill proposed by the BJP is a calculated move to eliminate regional parties that represent diverse cultures, languages, and regions, and serve as the backbone of Indian democracy.' BJP leaders, meanwhile, argue that simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State/Union Territory Legislative Assemblies would reduce election-related expenses and boost governance continuity.
