(Photo: Google pics)

As per Election Commission, 1500 candidates in 1996 parliamentary election had criminal records and 40 of them got elected to the Lok Sabha. In the state legislature, the picture is even more distressing. Out of the 4072 sitting MLA's in all the states, more than 700 have criminal records.

Criminals enter politics to become Politicians and then patronise other criminals. The dire consequences of this unholy alliance between Criminals and politicians are that at every level, Criminals are being elected and appointed to the positions of power.

(Photo: Google pics)

The reason many criminals enter politics is to gain influence and ensure that cases against them are dropped or not proceeded with. They are able to make it big in the political arena because of their financial clout. Political parties tap criminals for funds and in return provide them with political patronage and protection. As the Times of India points out: "Indeed, today, far from shrinking at the thought of harbouring criminal elements, parties seek them out, judging the muscle and money combination they represent to be of enormous value. Rough estimates suggest that in any state election 20percent of candidates are drawn from a criminal background. For the parties, it means overflowing coffers and unlimited fund to fight elections and for the criminals, it means protection from the law and respectable in the eye of society."

Another reason why political parties are not averse to fielding mafia dons is that winnability, not merit or experience, determines who get to contest elections. And mafia dons and other powerful Gangsters have shown that they can convert their muscle power into votes, often at the point of the gun.

An indomitable Mr.T.N Sheshan tried his best to cleanse the system but he failed. Mr.Sheshan successor, Mr Gill faced the same problem. The next Chief Election Commissioner Mr Lingdoh also find himself in such a pitiable position, that he has no concrete remedy to cleanse the system, but to appeal the vote: Not to vote for a criminal.

(Photo: Google pics)

A virtual impression seems have gained ground that you commit a crime and get away with it if you have Political patronage at the proper level. The politics dare not to proceed against you or if having initiated an action shall drag away their feet to defeat the end of justice. With politics and crime intertwined, bureaucracy and the police have also become part of Nexus. This unholy affinity is having a malignant effect on public life and poses a threat to the democratic structure of the country.

But as India went to her largest election exercise over this year's, the balance has perhaps begun to shift in favour of voters. In 2004, India's election was the first and the largest national election exercise that is being fought under the new election disclosure rule instituted in 2003. Candidates for Parliament and State Assemblies are now required to submit sworn affidavits along with their nomination papers giving information about their criminal, financial, and educational background.

(Photo: Google pics)

Nationwide, citizens wanting to know more about their candidates have a better opportunity at this before casting their ballot. To the cynics, this is a drop in the ocean and may not lead to much. The other, this may be the beginning of a new era in Indian democracy; an era to opportunity for citizens' initiatives to mobilize around publicly available information.

During the current elections cycle, the Election Commission opened the gates for the media and citizen to collect copies of candidates affidavits from Returning Officers and the District Election Officers. Ten states are having some form of election watch campaign, indicate a broad-based nationwide civil society initiative to give teeth to the EC rules. Some state election commission has already made candidate disclosures public on their websites and election watches have been distributing analyses to the media and citizens.

In the national crying for reforms in our electoral system, a process of power and judiciary, this verdict and people's right to know must be the starting point of democratic reform .this is also a moment for us to reflect. Once again, the resilience of our democratic system, the inherent strength of the institution, and the constitutional checks and balances stand as testimony to the maturity and vibrancy of our own governance system. We congratulate the advocates who marshalled the arguments ably on behalf of citizen and helped the court from its conclusions. Millions of Indians, several organizations and media all have fought this battle for democracy and liberty in keeping with glorious traditions of citizen assertion and peoples sovereignty. We salute those sentinels of freedom.

We are confident, however, that our parties and legislators will exhibit the requisite courage, wisdom and foresight to accept this verdict of the Supreme Court and use it as a launching pad for engineering far-reaching and vital electoral and governance reforms.

(Photo: Google pics)

The enormous problem of the nexus between criminals and politicians cannot be ignored any longer. The submission of the affidavit may have some deterrent effect but seems as it will also result in a futile exercise as in India, votes are being cast on the basis of cast, creed and religion. The poor illiterate people of this county still vote to the man of their caste or to the man of the fellow region. Moral values and ethics have long been banished from the political arena of our country, but we cannot have such an indifferent attitude. We shall have to find a solution to eradicate the menace to a great extent.

In a democratic country, all the powers lie in the hand of voters that in the general public. An awakening among the general mass can only show the right place to such criminal politicians.

~ Oliya Biswas

Color Adulteration

Falsification of milk ( adulteration of milk )

ADULTERATION - ( In the name of 'SAB KUCH CHALTA HAIN' )

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