Criminals in khadi

Raghuraj Pratap Singh, known as Raja bhaiya, who had to quit the Akhilesh Yadav ministry in Uttar Pradesh after he was accused of conspiracy to kill a police officer, has been an archetypal image of the worst in Indian politics.

The many number of criminal cases for murder, conspiracy, kidnapping and other offences did not prevent him from being elected to the state Assembly and from being made a minister. He was even made the minister in charge of jails perhaps to suit his tastes, temperament and background, though he was shifted later. It is easy to blame the feudal relations in society that prevail in many parts of the country for his election. But much greater blame rests with the inadequate laws that enable criminals to contest elections and the party leaders who choose them and make them ministers.

Raja bhaiya is a terror in his turf and has ruled his fiefdom with guns and goons. The latest killing in which his involvement is alleged is that of a police officer whose wife has said that he was targeted because he did not kowtow to Raja bhaiya and do his bidding. The same fate had befallen others in the past.

But Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav would still not find fault with him. Mulayam Singh has said that the charge against Raja bhaiya is yet to be proved. Mulayam’s government had revoked charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) against him in 2002.

Raja bhaiya will be investigated for his role in the latest incident but it will not make a difference to the person who has 50 other criminal cases against him.

UP is not the only state where politics has been badly criminalised, nor is Raja bhaiya the only person with a criminal record who gets elected and wields power as legislator and minister. There are hundreds of others who face criminal charges and still hold public offices.

The law bars only those who have been convicted and sentenced for two years or more from contesting elections. Charge-sheeted persons and those who go in appeal against convictions are free to contest. The Election Commission has called for a change of the law. So have many others. The proposal that the framing of charges by a court should be made sufficient ground for debarring and disqualification of a person should be implemented without delay. That might provide some safeguard.