Dear Friends and Voters,

Indian politics have grown murkier day by day. This despite the fact that TV, radio, Internet and print medium have all progressed and news can travel fast - thus information communicated easily amongst the masses in India and abroad. Then why is it that candidates with criminal background and records are being allowed to stand for elections and elected to the parliament and local governments. Has our society become so blind and impotent that we cannot understand the difference between good orderly law abiding citizens and criminals who break and corrupt the society ? Why are millions of Indians not demanding a better, cleaner, stable and effective governing bodies so that the future of our children is in better hands ?

I invite all of you to post your comments on this. We wish to raise this debate to a level that forces the govenment to review laws and act at grassroot and right through to the top level to examine the possiblities of changing it to ban the eligibility of these candidates from seeking elections. The law should be so strong that it would not allow criminals to stand for elections. This would be our first step in our fight to clean internally the corruption that rots our system and takes away the bright future of our children.

Please voice your opinions and send this link to as many friends as possible.

Regards,

Who can prevent criminalisation of politics? Politicians themselves, since they are our representatives in parliament, and they don't want to do it for obvious reasons.
_______________________________________________________

"Parties reject Election Commissions Reforms

New Delhi, Jul. 9 2002 (INS News) -- An all-party meeting called by the Election Commission of India, to discuss the proposal of amending statutory rules and format of of nomination papers, to give effect the judgement of Supreme Court of India, mandating candidates to disclose their criminal antecedets as well as financial and educational background, rejected by the leaders of all parties."

http://www.southasia.insnews.org/headlines/2002/july/india.electoral.reform.htm

Thank you Jay.

This article is an eye opener. However, we need to continue pushing for it and request the media, Community as well as religious leaders, educationists and all concerned to citizens to push for these changes.

This was one of the major steps take by aware citizens of India last year. I do not know their current status. I am aware the petition is on but i am not finding it on the link where it existed.

following link at IC can be useful

May 30, 2002: Call for Action! Letter to Election Commission
http://www.indiacause.com/NL_020530.htm

Make it tougher for the lawbreakers to be lawmakers.

This important news item did not receive deserved media attention in the current war hysteria. This Supreme Court ruling, if fully enforced, can change the landscape of India in coming years.

SC passed a landmark ruling on May 2, 2002 to Election Commission. In this ruling SC directed EC that candidates contesting parliamentary or assembly elections must disclose to the public: their criminal records (past and pending), assets & Liabilities and educational qualifications. The candidates will be required to furnish these details in an affidavit at the time of filing their nominations.

“The little man may think over before making his choice of electing law (breakers as law) makers,” said a three-judge Bench comprising Mr Justice M.B. Shah, Mr Justice B.P. Singh and Mr Justice H.K. Sema while directing the EC to pass necessary orders in this regard within two months.

Who opposed this?:
BJP and Congress Party appealed to the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court ruling citing ‘intrusion of privacy’! SC ruled again in favor of the people of India. VICTORY for people of India!!!

What do we need to do?:
We, the people of India, must convey our strongest desire to the Election Commission (EC) for full enforcement & implementation of this ruling. Following is online the letter to election Commissioner for this ruling’s full implementation. We have verified all possible details of this. Unfortunately we did not find too many about the organization that raised this signature drive. The letter & news items are available at:

http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/SupremeCourtIndia_Clean_Politics/

We appeal to all responsible Indian brothers and sisters to please send a request to the Election Commission to seek election reforms. We must unmask anyone and everyone who fails to let these reforms be enacted into a law.

I do not know why BJP is opposing this law? They are supposed to cleanup the huge corrupt practices set up by Congress leaders. It is shame that they are doing this.

Whether it is the BJP, Congress or any other party, the people of India must have zero tolerance for corruption and criminalization of Indian politics. The laws must be created in a way that will force the politicians to come out clean. Any Government opposing such laws must be swept out of power.

I am hopeful that the BJP supports such a move ! The Congress is the party that gave cover and fostered corruption ! This is a great opportunity for them to bring back India's glory !!! All BJP candidates must be clean and corruption free !!!!

Vinodh! Then do you think we all like minded people should forward letter to Mr Vajpayee not to oppose this law. He has some good sense in him and I think we should utilize that by writing him signed letters.

I urge you all to take the initiative and write to the PM, Mr. Atal B. Vajpayee about this. The more and frequently you will write, the more he will have to address the issue. There are over 100 crores people in India - even if we were to write a letter a week, we will force them to take this matter up immediately.

The recent report that India is the second most corrupt nation in Asia - is an eye opener and a shameful verdict on the Indian people. Some of us will not believe it, some will try to ignore it, some will get defensive about it but we have to take it head on ! Why should our Nation - India be called a corrupt Nation when we are such a peaceful god fearing people who only teach our children to respect and be humble !

Taking a step forward to eliminate corruption - It is for your good, the good of fellow Indians and our future generations !

Shashiji, Would you be kind to take a lead on this. Write to me or the editor of IndiaCause. I am sure they can send you a prepared draft to pass it to all.

Gentlemen and Ladies,

Please keep this thought and action moving !!!!

Lets write to the PM and press him hard on this issue.

Jai Hind