Coimbatore : Advocating a change in the political system, including right to recall and women’s reservation, BJP MP Varun Gandhi today said people should have more say in a democracy.

“Unless the political system changes, nothing will change, since people should matter and have more say, which will lead to a direct democracy,” Varun said at a youth conclave on nation-building organised by Sri Krishna Institutions here.

People were less aware about the selection of their elected representatives, choosing by caste, religion or region, which was not the way to take country forward, he said, adding that they should have the right to recall, even though it could be abused.

As far as women’s reservation was concerned only 11 per cent women were in Parliament and 9 per cent in State Assemblies. Even here,
mothers, wives, sisters and relatives of leaders were entering the Houses, he pointed out.

The country now had its first women defence minister in Nirmala Seetharaman, but hardly six women judges since 1950.
“Without the suffix of Gandhi, I would not have addressed you today,” he said.

On the sudden drop in employment in IT sector and 75,000 jobs lost last year, he said there should be change in the education system, transferable skills being key.

One per cent of people had 63 per cent assets in the country and 10 per cent held 90 per cent assets, he pointed out.

People were not challenging the system, he said. The solution to all this was in the hands of young people, who should fight to make the dreams of the people true, Varun said.