Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Crime and politics

Sir — Your Editorial `Unity as conspiracy' (Aug. 6) has exposed our politicians' act of forcing the withdrawal of a clause stipulating the disqualification of candidates charge-sheeted for atrocious crimes like murder, dacoity and rape. The unanimity seen in this act itself shows the bare bones of our political structure .Now it is clear that crime and politics are inextricable. The argument given by the politicians of being victimised is nothing but sophism. The act of endorsing a proposal at the all-party meeting to furnish details to the presiding officer of the House shows how democratic and egalitarian these parties are.

Adhish Prasoon,

Kanpur, U.P.

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Sir, — Your Editorial `Unity as conspiracy', though a little late in the day, highlights the very reasons that prompted the Supreme Court judgment of May 2 and the subsequent Election Commission order. The fact that politicians of all colours are afraid of transparency is in itself an admission of skeletons in all cupboards. The Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, and the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, should have grabbed this opportunity to rid their parties of corrupt and criminal elements to bring some semblance of morality to politics. Only `statesmen' and not mere party leaders who owe their positions to these very elements, could have done so.

T.R. Srinivasan,

Chennai

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