On May 13 our parliamentarians celebrated the 60th anniversary of parliament. In an unusual solidarity they resolved – among other things – to uphold the dignity, sanctity and supremacy of the august house, to enhance the accountability of the government, to rededicate to the task of nation building and to generally rise to the highest ethical standards demanded by the founding fathers. Asaduddin Owaisi said that this credibility deficit was responsible for the fringe elements trying to override parliamentary supremacy.
What the honourable members preferred not to mention was that among them were 72 members with criminal records. In the previous Lok Sabha there were 55! They have been charge-sheeted for crimes like attempt to murder, murder, extortion, cheating and misappropriation of property, kidnapping and wrongful confinement, rape, concealing stolen property and house breaking by night. The house could have passed a resolution asking these not-so-honourable members to resign and not contest the next elections or the house could have asked their parties not to field them again.
Dr Mookhi Amir Ali
Mumbai, M.S