news details |
|
|
| Tainted lawmakers come under scanner | | Move to prevent 'bad' MPs from becoming Ministers | |
B L KAK
NEW DELHI, NOV 30
Indications are by no means uncertain that the Congress-led coalition government at the Centre will initiate measures to amend laws to keep tainted lawmakers out of the Council of Ministers. According to authoritative sources, President, APJ Abdul Kalam, has taken strong exception to the unwanted encouragement from the powers-that-be at the Centre and in States to tainted lawmakers.
These sources said that the President voiced deep conern at the presence of tainted MPs and legislators in the Councils of Ministers at the Centre and in States during his meeting with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday. "The two leaders discussed issues of national and international importance including busines in the current session of Parliament", an offical release said.
Sources attach much importance to the timing of the meeting between the two most important constitutional personalites. The meeting took place a day after the Union Minister, Shibu Soren, was found guilty by a Delhi court in a murder case. The meeting also tok place after the Opposition atacked the Prime Minister in both Houses of Parliament for "misusing" his prerogative. According to sources, both President and Prime Minister, who are universally known as men of high integrity, favoured "early" amendments in laws to keep tainted persons out of Councils of Ministers in the country.
The embarrassing instance of a serving Minister being sent to jail after being pronounced guilty in a murder case has brought the focus back on tainted Ministers, the issue that rocked the country soon after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government assumed power in May 2004. Union Law Minister, HR Bhardwaj, has divulged that the government is willing to amend the Representation of People's Act to keep out lawmakers facing grave charges from becoming Ministers. The principal opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which forced adjournments of both Houses of Parliament, was prompt to promise its support to any move to amend the existing laws. The existing laws do not prevent a chargesheeted lawmaker from becoming a Minister unless convicted by a court of law.
While Coal Minister, Shibu Soren, had to resign after being pronounced guilty for conspiracy, abduction and murder of his personal assistant Shahsinath Jha, several chargesheeted lawmakers continue to hold ministerial posts including Railways Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Interestingly, the BJP was opposed to amending the laws when it was in power between 1998-2004 since two of its senior Ministers including the then Deputy Prime Minister, LK Advani, were chargesheeted in the Babri Masjid demolition case. The BJP's defence has been that there is need to distinguish between a criminal case and a political case, asserting the Babri demolition was outcome of a popular movement. Interestingly, Advani, now Leader of Opposition, for the first time apologised for the Babri demolition before training his gun on the government over the Shibu Soren saga.
Congress circles are privately blaming Lalu Prasad Yadav for landing the UPA government in trouble just ahead of crucial Assembly polls in four states, saying he virtually arm-twisted the party to induct Shibu Soren as a Minister after the court granted him bail in the Chirudih case. "Lalu did the same once again forcing the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to re-induct Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav as a junior Minister only last month", said a Congress party lawmaker.
Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav was forced to quit after he was chargesheeted for unlawfully getting his younger brother released from police custody during Bihar Assembly elections last year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
