SP leader appeals to PM Modi to stop giving security to tainted ministers

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Rajesh Dixit said here on Wednesday that after listening to the Supreme Court's verdict on tainted ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government should keep such ministers away from politics rather than giving them security.

"We respect the Supreme Court verdict. The SP government and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has always made sure that such ministers should be kept away from the government and their procedure, both before as well as after the elections. But after the verdict which the SC has given, PM Modi's government must keep tainted ministers away from politics rather than giving them security," said Dixit.

Earlier today, a five-bench judge panel, headed by Chief Justice of India RM Lodha, delivered the verdict on a PIL on whether ministers with criminal cases against them can continue to be a part of the government.

The Supreme Court decided not to disqualify ministers with criminal backgrounds and said that it was the prerogative of the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers to do so.

Adding to it, the apex court also said that it reposed immense trust in the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers not to appoint anyone who is being tried in the courts for some serious criminal charge.

According to certain estimates, more than thirty percent of the ministers in the present government have a criminal background.