AGARTALA, May 23 (TIWN): National Election Watch (NEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) in letter requested Prime Minister designate, Narendra Modi not to make the MPs with criminal antecedents as minister in his cabinet.It stated the dismal fact appeared after announcement of the election result that newly formed 16th Lok Sabha is having a sizeable number of MPs.According to self sworn affidavit of the MPs, 21% that counts 112 of 543 members of Loksabha are facing serious criminal charges, which include 98 MPs of BJP.

NEW (Natonal Election Watch) requested Mr Modi to include only spotless representatives in his Cabinet to ensure a clean governance under his rule, as he committed to.

“The steady increase in the number of MPs facing criminal charges over the years is a matter of grave concern to the country,” the letter mentioned.

While in Lok Sabha 2004, the number of MPs facing criminal charges was 24 per cent, in Lok Sabha 2009 it had increased to 30 per cent, and in the newly elected Lok Sabha 2014, the number has reached the mark of 34 per cent, which is 186 MPs.

In BJP alone, 98 (35%) out of 281 MPs analysed by NEW & ADR have self-declared criminal cases, while 63 (22%) have self-declared serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, dacoity etc.

Modi’s commitment to critically examine MPs with self-declared criminal cases and fast tracking cases against them, which he reiterated during the recent Lok Sabha campaign saying, “the next Parliament would be cleaned by punishing the guilty and 14^th Prime Minister will provide clean and exemplary governance.  

The letter demanded, MPs with serious criminal cases should not be made Ministers or given chairs of responsibilities in the Parliament such as in Standing Committees, Financial committees etc.

Besides, any MP should not be assigned a portfolio in the Cabinet that poses a conflict of interest with his/her business interests.