New Delhi: An analysis of the affidavits of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) has revealed that over 30 per cent of them have criminal cases registered against them.
According to a study done by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Election Watch (NEW), 30 per cent of sitting Lok Sabha MPs and 31 per cent of sitting MLAs have criminal cases registered against them.
To get a sense of criminalisation of politics, the ADR and the NEW analysed the self-sworn affidavits of a total of 4,807 sitting MPs and MLAs.
Among the ministers in the Modi cabinet charged with serious offences, Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti ranks at the top. Bharti, representing Jhansi constituency of Uttar Pradesh, is charged with rioting, assault, wrongful restraint and voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
Minister of State (independent charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has two cases pending against him. He is accused in cases pertaining to showcasing obscene acts and songs, wrongful restraint, obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions, and intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace. Pradhan was elected to the Rajya Sabha in March 2012 from Bihar.
Union Minister of Labour and Employment Narendra Singh Tomar from Madhya Pradesh is charged with disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant. He hails from the Gwalior constituency.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, representing the Muzzaffarnagar constituency of Uttar Pradesh, is accused of assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty and disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.
Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram from Sundargarh constituency of Odisha is charged with acts done in furtherance of common intention by several persons, and being member of an unlawful assembly, causing wrongful restraint and obstruction in public way or line of navigation.
Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Danve Raosaheb Dadarao, representing Jalna constituency of Maharashtra, is charged with rioting, wrongful restraint and assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty.
Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister (independent charge) Ram Vilas Paswan from Hajipur constituency of Bihar is facing proceedings pertaining to bribery, and intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace.
Rural Development Minister Upendra Kushwaha, representing Karakat constituency of Bihar, is charged with bribery and disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.
Minister of State of External Affairs and Minister of State (independent charge) for North East Region Vijay Kumar Singh, hailing from Ghaziabad constituency of Uttar Pradesh, is accused of making a false charge of offence, rioting, being armed with deadly weapon, and causing defamation.
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur constituency of Maharashtra is facing charges of criminal intimidation, being member of an unlawful assembly and house trespassing.
Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi from Pilibhit constituency of Uttar Pradesh, is accused of criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan from Delhi is charged with rioting, voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty, causing mischief, unlawful assembly and assault.
