PRESS RELEASE

Legal seminar on ‘Electoral Reforms and Empowering the Citizen’ held in Delhi

Former Union Minister Salman Khurshid attended as Chief Guest at the program organized by AIEM and Legal Connect Delhi in the Scholar School auditorium.

NEW DELHI, April 26, 2026 — The All India Educational Movement (AIEM), in collaboration with Legal Connect Delhi, successfully organized a legal awareness program today at ‘The Scholar School’ in Okhla on the theme “Electoral Reforms and Empowering the Citizen”.

The program was presided over by Dr. S. Farooq, Patron of AIEM and Tasmia Education Society, while former Union Minister and President of the Indian Islamic Culture Centre, Salman Khurshid, attended as the Chief Guest.

In the inaugural address, AIEM President Dr. Khwaja M. Shahid emphasized the impact of money power and manpower in elections and paid tribute to AIEM founder Syed Hamid.

As the keynote speaker, India’s former Deputy Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Noor Mohammad spoke on citizens’ rights and the necessity of electoral reforms. He specifically discussed the “Proportional Representation” system in comparison to the “First Past the Post” system, along with other reformative points.

Meanwhile, Professor V.K. Tripathi attended as a special guest, holding the corporate sector responsible for influencing the democratic system.

Aslam Ahmed, Advocate on Record at the Supreme Court, shared his views on electoral reforms happening in other countries while moderating the stage. AIEM General Secretary Abdul Rashid welcomed the guests, followed by Advocate Zahid Akhtar Falahi, who introduced ‘Legal Connect Delhi’.

Among other speakers, Dr. Khan Yasir spoke on the topic “Democracy over Kingship,” warning that democracy should not turn into majoritarianism. Syed Qasim Rasul Ilyas of the Muslim Personal Law Board discussed the need for electoral reforms and specifically mentioned how electoral bonds affect the current system. He also highlighted the ground realities and challenges of modern elections.

The program concluded with an address by Chief Guest Salman Khurshid, who advocated for longer legislative sessions to increase government effectiveness and suggested a discussion on the German proportional representation model.

The event began with a recitation of the Holy Quran by Mansoor Ghazi , while Raees Ahmad, Advocate at the Delhi High Court, thanked the guests who traveled from across the country.

Legal experts, former administrators, and civil society leaders from across the nation participated in the discussion on the changing landscape of Indian democracy, including: Dr. Idris Qureshi (President, Mushawarat Delhi) Mohammad Ilyas Saifi, Syed Mansoor Agha (Senior Journalist) Shams Khwaja (Advocate) Abdul Samad (Former Deputy Director, NIOS) Akhtar Saifi (Former DSP)Qazi Mohammad Mian, Shehzad (Former Waqf Commissioner & Advocate) Advocate Saleem and Shaheen Kausar, Professor Khalid (Meerut University), Farah Naaz (Advocate), Inamur Rahman (Secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami), and Aijaz Gauri, along with hundreds of others.