When the elected representatives fail to perform their duty, people do
it. Lot of good things have happened in India because of PILs filed by
normal people. One example is the banning of smoking in public places
in Kerala. Now based on another PIL, the supreme court says that candidates have to declare lot more information about themselves.
BJP
unhappy, Cong hails SC verdict
BJP on Thursday expressed serious concern over the
Supreme Court decison making it mandatory for candidates to declare
their criminal antecedents, assets and liabilities and educational
qualification at the time of filing of nomination papers, and favoured
an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.
The supreme court does not say that it not illegal to be rich, but you
just have to declare it. But there are ways thought out by politicians
to bypass this. For example, when Lallo Yadav was convicted, he made
his wife the Chief Minister of Bihar (the same place where Buddha got
enlightenment). There is nothing which prevents ruling by proxy. But
still I think this step goes a long way in cleaning up the Indian
elections.
For once I am impressed with the Communist Party. They don’t have
money, they have nothing to hide.
CPI(M)
hails SC verdict on electoral reform
The Communist Party of India (CPI) today hailed the
Supreme Court verdict setting aside an amendment to the Representation
of Peoples (Amendment) Act, 2002 and asked all parties to ”gracefully
accept” the decision that seeks to bring about far-reaching electoral
reforms. ”Voters have the right to know the antecedents of their
candidates, their assets, liabilities and educational
qualifications,” CPI Genral Secretary A B Bardhan said at a press
conference here.
