Sir — This refers to the article, “When lawmakers and lawbreakers are one” (August 12) by Joginder Singh. The former CBI Director has rightly pointed out that after independence, local politicians have replaced the East India Company in looting and bleeding India. Earlier, persons with a criminal background only lent support, often covertly, to candidates with a clean image.
But today, persons of dubious repute and tainted background have brazenly entered the hallowed precincts of Parliament on the strength of money and muscle-power. Worse, political parties do not shy from fielding people who have been convicted. It is sad that the Supreme Court’s effort to cleanse politics of criminals by barring convicted individuals from contesting polls, seems to have raised the hackles of all political parties who have shown remarkable unity and decided to challenge the apex court’s ruling.
Also, the political parties do not want to come under the ambit of the Right to Information Act, lest the so-called donations they collect, come under scrutiny. The reasons they are giving for their decision are unconvincing. Apparently, electoral reforms and decriminalisation of politics will remain a distant dream.