M A I L B A G

Bar criminals from standing for elections

In his front-page editorial, “Co-opting the crooks” (May 11), H.K. Dua has lamented the helplessness of the political system to keep other Shahabuddins out of Parliament. No one in the government or Opposition seems bothered about the danger of a nation of one-billion people and the political system facing from the crooks of the land.

Criminals are entering Parliament and state legislatures and thus lawbreakers are becoming lawmakers. They are pushing the country to chaos. Strangely, even after 60 years of Independence, no government at the Centre has shown the guts to enact a law barring criminals from entering legislatures.

We need tougher laws to prevent people from involving themselves in acts of terrorism, anti-national activities, organised crime, election-related offences, murder, rape, extortion, drug and human trafficking and other heinous crimes. Opposition parties are equally responsible for the mess.

It would be better if the Supreme Court and the Election Commission take the lead to ensure that there will be no elections in future until Parliament passes the Bill barring criminals from fighting the elections.

DILBAG RAI, Chandigarh

II

Mr Dua has highlighted the danger of felons and venal politicians to the political system. The intention of his write-up is to educate the polity and root out politicians with a criminal record. The voters are squarely responsible for the present mess. An awakened electorate can deter tainted politicians from gaining entry into the representative institutions.

Sadly, citizens’ participation in the elections is limited to voting. But if we don’t vote for those with a good track record and unimpeachable integrity, freedom from poverty, unemployment, corruption, lawlessness and militancy will remain a distant dream. The corridors of power will continue to be a haunt for criminals.

Political (or coalition) compulsion is cited as an excuse for including the tainted men in the government. Why can’t elections be held under President’s rule? And candidates should campaign only through the media while the Election Commission should meet their expenses.

SOSHIL RATTAN, Amritsar

III

The front-page editorial aptly exposes the true character of our MLAs, MPs and Ministers. Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav supported his party MP Shahabuddin at every step despite his record in murder, extortion, possession of illegal arms and so on. He was first included in the Bihar Assembly and later got elected as the Lok Sabha MP from Siwan.

Likewise, many MPs are sitting in Parliament today. Recently, 200 MLAs with criminal record contested the UP elections. Many have won and reports suggest that 22 of them got included in the Mayawati ministry.

The political system is not bothered to root out those who kidnap, rape, kill, extort and do human trafficking. The Supreme Court can alone crack the whip and haul up all the tainted candidates and ministers. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is honest and hard working, should remove tainted ministers from his Cabinet and bring improvement in the present system.

O. P. GARG, Patiala

IV

Mr Dua has very rightly said that the political system evolved after a country’s freedom struggle and considerable labour of those who worked hard on the Constitution is unable to keep out of power structure those who 
kidnap, rape, kill, extort and do human trafficking and gun running.

There are 40 other Shahabuddins who have managed to get elected to Parliament and it is a mockery of our democratic system. The political system does not have the strength to keep such people with criminal charges out of Parliament. Our Constitution is silent on tainted ministers. Criminals, murderers, the corrupt, scamsters and history-sheeters have managed to win the election with their muscle and money power to enter Parliament and state legislatures. The entire system is polluted.

A constitutional amendment barring tainted MPs and ministers has become imperative. Clean and honest politicians cutting across party lines must come together to stem the rot.

Dr S.K. AGGARWAL, Amritsar