There is a need to discuss State funding for elections at a time when a single party has access to 90% of the election funds, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Sunday at the birth centenary celebrations of CPI leader Indrajit Gupta. “Having spent a large part of his public life in the Opposition, Indrajitji knew that without an Opposition, democracy has no soul,” Mr. Singh said. Indrajit Gupta had been a parliamentarian for 37 years from 1960 till his death in 2001. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who couldn’t attend the event, sent out a written message which was ready by Mr. Singh. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury recalled interesting details about Indrajit Gupta and described him as a stickler to norms of governance.

Source: The Hindu July 21, 2019 16:52 UTC