Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch have urged Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi to include only “clean” MPs in his cabinet.In a letter sent to the PM-designate (dated 20-05-15), National Election Watch (NEW) and ADR have made the following requests-
That MPs with serious criminal cases should not be made Ministers or given chairs of responsibilities in the Parliament such as in Standing Committees, Financial committees etc.
That any MP should not be assigned a portfolio in the Cabinet that poses a conflict of interest with his/her business interests.
The ADR reminded Modi of his promise in the election campaign that “the next Parliament would be cleaned by punishing the guilty and corrupt. The letter also highlighted the steady increase in the number of MPs facing criminal charges. While in Lok Sabha 2004, the number of MPs facing criminal charges was 24 per cent, in Lok Sabha 2009 it had increased to 30 per cent, and in the newly elected Lok Sabha 2014, the number has reached the mark of 34 per cent, which is 186 MPs.
In BJP alone, 98 (35%) out of 281 MPs analysed by NEW & ADR have self-declared criminal cases, while 63 (22%) have self-declared serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, dacoity etc
That MPs with serious criminal cases should not be made Ministers or given chairs of responsibilities in the Parliament such as in Standing Committees, Financial committees etc.
That any MP should not be assigned a portfolio in the Cabinet that poses a conflict of interest with his/her business interests.
The ADR reminded Modi of his promise in the election campaign that “the next Parliament would be cleaned by punishing the guilty and corrupt. The letter also highlighted the steady increase in the number of MPs facing criminal charges. While in Lok Sabha 2004, the number of MPs facing criminal charges was 24 per cent, in Lok Sabha 2009 it had increased to 30 per cent, and in the newly elected Lok Sabha 2014, the number has reached the mark of 34 per cent, which is 186 MPs.
In BJP alone, 98 (35%) out of 281 MPs analysed by NEW & ADR have self-declared criminal cases, while 63 (22%) have self-declared serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, dacoity etc
