Cong to govt: bring law to bar criminals in politics

The Congress on Tuesday said it would support any move by the Modi government to bring a legislation to bar those facing criminal cases from contesting elections.

“As far as the criminality and politics are concerned, those elements who have a criminal background, who are or all those elements who have escaped criminal chargesheet, they should not be in politics.

"If this government brings a legislation to ensure that criminals are out of politics, we will support it,” senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said here.

Sibal also dared the Modi government to bring such a legislation and alleged that the BJP's fight against corruption was merely posturing as it had failed to appoint a Lokpal even after four years in office.

“This government will never bring such a law. If it does so, its strength in the Lok Sabha will come down from 282 to 182,” Sibal, a former law minister said.