Re: [IAC#RG] HAS ROWDY ELEMENTS BECOME INTEGRAL SEGMENT OF INDIAN POLITICAL PARTIES ?

Dear Mr.  Venkatraman,

 

Your letter very aptly points out the malice and the cure.  However, we have to think about the implementation.  Clearly as you point out that the govt will oppose any such measures.  But, is the election commission competent to enforce exclusion of potential criminals from contesting elections? 

 

Perhaps an alternate could be presented.  Finally it is the people who must choose their leaders and if they have the information on each candidate against whom criminal or corruption charges have been framed on hand at the time of voting, then they can make informed choices.  And, if they chose to vote a criminal in, then they have to live with the consequences along with everyone else who opposed the criminal – that is democracy. 

 

Of course this does not solve the problem of illiterates, of the thugs, of police complicity, intimidation, booth capturing, false allegations, etc., etc. 

 

People empowerment may be the solution.

 

Best Regards,

 

Virender

On Mon, Feb 4, 2013 at 6:57 AM, Venkatraman Ns <nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com> wrote:

 

To

India Against Corruption                                                               

 

 

 

                                                  HAS ROWDY ELEMENTS BECOME INTEGRAL SEGMENT OF INDIAN POLITICAL PARTIES ?

It appears that almost every political party in India maintain "an army of thugs" who are used to settle scores with political opponents and for other  purposes such as black mailing and  for collecting donations by coercive methods. It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between the politicians and the law breakers. In several states including Tamil Nadu, political murders and assaults  have become the order of the day with such incidents being reported frequently.

The background of such people who are murdered or  assaulted and those who carry out such crimes are extremely disturbing.  Most of such people are found to enjoy political patronage. They  adopt all sorts of practices to win government contracts or collect donations from industries and commercial establishments by threats and coercive methods. They seem to have no fear of law and the law enforcing machinery seem to be ineffective in dealing with them due to political interference at various levels.

These unsavoury acts are generally known and widely discussed in private by people and are also reported in the media. But, nothing is happening that would stop such activities.

Obviously, it is important that criminals should not be allowed to contest elections and become MLAs or MPs.  Chief election Commissioner has now proposed to the government that anyone against whom criminal or corruption charges have been framed in court should not be allowed to contest elections, without waiting for them to be convicted  for barring them from contesting.

The government of India is unlikely to accede to the proposal of the election commission for obvious reasons.  Election Commission should use its INHERENT POWERS  and order that those against whom corruption charges have been framed in the court cannot contest elections. Election Commission need to have courage of conviction to do so. All concerned people should urge and support the Election Commission to act in the matter.

This is the only way to prevent criminalisation of politics.

N.S.Venkataraman

Nandini Voice for The Deprived

Email:- nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com

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Virender Bhogal
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