Question

Gandhiji strongly believed that every adult in India should be given the right to vote. However, a few people don't share his views. They feel that illiterate people, who are mainly poor, should not be given the right to vote. What do you think? Do you think this would be a form of discrimination? Give five points to support your view and share these with the class.

Answer 1

Yes, it would be a form of discrimination as all citizens are equal. The constitution aims at providing equality to all its citizens. If a person believes that illiterate people should not be given the right to vote then he is simply being a discriminator.

• We have no right to discriminate against anyone on the basis of poverty.
  
• An illiterate is also a citizen of India. He should not be debarred from voting right on the basis of his illiteracy.
  
• Our constitution provides equal voting rights to all its citizens.
  
• As ideal citizens, we all have to abide by the constitutional provisions.
  
• It will conflict with the idea of the right to equality of Democracy.

We must honour human dignity and legal provisions.