CRIMINALIZING INSTEAD OF CLEANSING THE LEGISLATURE It is reported that in the Bihar Assembly polls, 31% (328) candidates have declared criminal cases against them, out of which 23% (244) have serious non bailable criminal cases against them! That is a big number, and the BJP 72% (21 out of 29) declared criminal cases against themselves) out of which 45% (13) serious! This is not to say any other party are likewise not promoting "winnable" candidates. On talk shows their spokespersons blame the laws, but they make the laws? We are not talking of election rules broken or political vendetta charges but hardcore criminals who will be making the laws for the EC and courts to implement. In draconian legislations they have passed like UAPA, anyone can be arrested without restrictions and jailed on the charges of national security or threat to government and they are guilty unless proved innocent, but elected politicians with criminal charges are innocent until proved guilty and once elected they ensure they remain innocent using the law. Whilst the courts and the EC seem helpless, we the people in our democracy seem not to want to or are not permitted to cleanse the system! Do we want a Banana Republic ?
