Criminals in Politics
Last few days have been amazing….watching the prime-time TV….and reading National Newspapers in India!
Elections are looming large….and once again the subject of ‘Criminalization of politics’ is being hotly debated.
There was a news feature that gave a sorry record of leading National Party Candidates- with respect to their criminal Stats!
This well-researched feature left one wondering:
Do we have to always go for the lesser evil ?
(While all party nominations had ‘criminals’ in the list….the one with least blemishes was the one having only 23%... or was it 19% ?)
…well… these statistics are of no consequence….nor is the quantificational accuracy of the news features……what is alarming is:
THAT CRIMINALS ARE being fielded by all parties….!!!
Since legal eagles are now….sort of….running the show….in most parties…..It was quite ‘painfully interesting’ to understand the LEGAL RATIONALISATION on this issue!
These are some of the mumbo jumbo facts (almost) that were highlighted in an ‘intellectual’ debate on TV :
While a person alleged of a crime is not a criminal ( makes sense)….a person convicted of a charge Is….but he/she can still fight elections….if the court has not yet announced the sentence !
A person who is undergoing a trial….even for a gory crime like murder …is Not !
One on bail is a fence-sitter….he can be labeled as a criminal….or otherwise….depending on the political necessities !
Election commission can only POINT OUT…cannot debar a candidate….even if he/she is a known criminal….and who passes the MAGICAL LEGAL ACID TEST!
The argument that was like an icing on the cake….. “Let people decide if they want to vote for a ‘criminal’…. ( in the past people have brought noted criminals into parliament with thumping majority !)”
This is not a journalistic piece ….that will talk of statistics….and specific cases ….
….it is just our way to share with you….dear readers….the fact about the bottomless pit that democracy has fallen into….it needs to be looked at in a ‘redefining’ sort of way!!!
