Wangdi’s statement is anti-democratic, says Rongthong

Kathmandu, January 08: The Druk National Congress (Rongthong) on Monday has said the discussion on the draft Election Bill in the National Assembly has presented a clear picture of the Bhutanese Election Commissioner's mindset and the acute need to cultivate a democratic culture and to embrace democratic ways of functioning.

In a press statement issued by its President Rongthong Kunley Dorji, DNC further accused the Election Commissioner, Kunzang Wangdi's remarks that the elections bill was distributed to the Assembly Members for information and awareness in preparation for the elections in 2008, and not for discussion, speaks volumes. “His remarks are nothing but an insult to the members of National Assembly, including the new King, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck” it reads.

DNC has strongly demanded an explanation from the Election Commissioner as to how he concluded that the people of Bhutan have already endorsed the draft Constitution.

“The Election Commissioner's defense of the Election Bill, particularly the portion that stipulates that the minimum eligibility for a candidate to be a member of the Parliament is a college graduate, warrants condemnation”, the statement reads, adding- “Instead, the Bill is in total contravention of the fundamental rights enshrined in draft Constitution”.

DNC has said that Wangdi's assumption that only graduates are able to understand, analyze and respond to matters of local, regional and national interest is flawed.

Meanwhile, the DNC has claimed the recent remarks of Khandu Wangchuck in the National Assembly terming exiled Bhutanese ‘ready-made-terrorists’ as a source of further impediment.

DNC has urged the Bhutanese government to realize that it has a moral duty and a responsibility to accept its citizens in exile back to Bhutan. Bhutan News Service