SC should take note of politicians speaking language of hate: Manoj Jha

Welcoming the Supreme Court's decision of requiring all political parties to publish details of criminal cases against candidates in parliamentary and Assembly elections, RJD leader Manoj Jha has said that politicians speaking the language of hate must also be held equally responsible.

"I cent percent agree with the Supreme Court. Several steps are required to be taken for making politics transparent. Those who speak the language of hatred are equally culprits," Jha told ANI on Thursday.

"But it must be taken into account that cases are slammed against people just because of 'dharna'. People are tagged as urban Naxal and put behind bars. Those who eulogise Godse and insult Gandhi are equally responsible," he said.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court had directed all political parties to upload on their websites the details of criminals cases against their candidates within 48 hours in Parliamentary and Assembly elections, along with the reasons for the selection of those with criminal antecedents.

The top court also directed parties to publish credentials, achievements and criminal antecedents of candidates on social media platforms.

The court gave the order on a contempt petition filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay which had claimed that the directions given by the apex court in its September 2018 verdict on the disclosure of criminal antecedents by the poll candidates were not being followed.

The court further said that the parties will be liable for contempt if they failed to comply with the order. It asked the Election Commission to file a contempt petition in the top court if the political parties did not comply with the directives.