Indian expatriates living in Jeddah have expressed outrage at the Indian Cabinet passing an executive order on Tuesday that will allow convicted lawmakers to continue to hold office and contest elections, particularly since the Supreme Court had issued an order in July that any lawmaker found guilty of a crime could no longer hold or run for an elected office.
Fuzail Ahmed, president of North India Fraternity Forum (NIFF), termed it as “totally wrong” and said the Indian president should not sign it.
“It is improper to allow convicted lawmakers to hold office and contest elections. It is no less than selling the country to ‘goondas’ and dacoits, which will add to and increase criminalization of politics. This is nothing short of playing with basic democratic norms.
The president should revoke the decision because such a law will allow more convicted criminals to come into politics and “do their thing.” This will shatter the democratic fabric woven so carefully and with so many sacrifices of life and property by our forefathers,” he said. “In the prevailing situation, ‘wrong is right.’ Indian politicians are unabashedly shielding themselves. They are ganging up to save their own skins,” said Mohsin Siddiqui, an engineer.
“It is strange that on the one hand, politicians never tire of commenting on every big or small case of irregularity, corruption, or misuse of office in the media. In reality, they themselves do not allow the law to work and find ways to save their own skin,” Siddiqui added. “If such a law comes into effect, many will be caught in a net of their own making,” said Nasir Khawaja, a marine executive.
“Lawmakers are ganging up. The public should boycott such politicians. The Supreme Court and the Election Commission should jointly find a solution,” he said.
He said it is hard to find another instance of their getting together so swiftly and in such strength in favor of a law, which goes against the interest of a wide spectrum of people. “They dilly-dally and delay when it comes to the welfare of the people at large, but act with speed and rise as a monolith when their own interests are at stake,” he added.
The nomination of such candidates should be rejected from the time his papers are filed. Also, a “none of the above” field should be added to the ballot paper to allow voters to reject candidates. He said creating widespread awareness will help voters make sound voting decisions. Politicians may be cornered into making reforms if a collective boycott is achieved, he said.
“What is happening in India these days concerning this particular issue and a host of others does not bode well for the world’s largest democracy. It seems that there are individuals and parties with a vested interest, masquerading with the ‘holier than thou’ attitude, but in an unholy alliance.
They are actually pushing the country toward confusion and mobocracy,” said Samir Shah, an accountant.
Expats express outrage at tainted Indian politicians
