Citizen’s Groups plea ban criminal in 15 LS

New Delhi 20th jan 2009. Concerned & bewildered Youth, Women &
Citizen’s groups, members of the Press came together at the Press Club
New Delhi on 20th Jan 2009 to address the menace & growing
criminalisation of Indian Parliament and legislatures.

Youth & 780 million Indians less than 35 years of age are particularly
unhappy at the callous attitude of India's top Leadership & Political
Parties.

“The 14th Lok Sabha has 120 criminals as members. 6 of these are in
jail yet they are allowed to cast their vote in Parliament. By
allowing criminals to continue as law makers to serve political
expedience, our elected leaders are making a mockery of the intended
provisions of Section 8 of the Representation of Peoples Act 1951”,
said Roshan Seth, Trustee NNFI. “More so it is a direct affront to the
citizens who reposed faith in the elected leadership to honour their
oath to the Constitution and to preserve our democracy”, he added

“People who have accumulated wealth through corruption, loot, drug
money and a variety of serious crimes are today on the verge of
controlling our Parliament. At stake is the very existence of our
democracy. Citizens who care for India should no longer accept this
grave situation and pledge a ban on tickets to those with criminal
antecedents at the forth coming Lok Sabha elections by April 2009”
said Sri Ram Bahadur Rai, respected senior journalist.

“Todays’ divisive polity by denying fundamental rights enshrined in
the Constitution results in untold suffering to almost 80% of the
population who have to daily struggle for their existence. Also
minimal trickle down development due open corruption increases
hardship”, said Jiten Jain of YFE.

Stalwarts from Akhilbhartia Jan Chetna Manch, Youth For Equality, Yuva
Shakti Manch and prominent groups assembled, pledged to work pooling
resourses & others concerned through the length and breadth of the
country to block the infusion of criminals into the legislatures and
to make the ‘business of politics’ not lucrative to be in, for those
inside.

“The growth of small regional parties, many led by those with dubious
antecedents, does not bode well for India and threatens the very
existence of the National Parties such as Congress and BJP as well as
our parliamentary democracy” said Gen Vinod Saighal of MRGG.

Posted by Electoral reforms at 11:39 PM