In a concerning revelation, the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) has highlighted that 28 out of the 71 ministers in the third Narendra Modi government have criminal cases against them. Among them, 19 face serious charges including attempted murder, crimes against women, and hate speech.
Two ministers, Shantanu Thakur and Sukanta Majumdar, have declared cases related to attempted murder under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code. Shantanu Thakur serves as the minister of state for ports, shipping, and waterways, while Sukanta Majumdar is the minister of state for education and the Development of North Eastern Region.
Furthermore, five ministers have cases related to crimes against women. These include Bandi Sanjay Kumar (MoS for Home), Shantanu Thakur, Sukanta Majumdar, Suresh Gopi (MoS for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism), and Jual Oram (Tribal Affairs Minister).
Additionally, the ADR report identifies eight ministers with cases related to hate speech.
This revelation raises serious questions about the selection process for ministers and the commitment of the government to uphold the rule of law. It is imperative that individuals with criminal backgrounds, especially those facing serious charges, are not given positions of power that could undermine the integrity of governance.
The government must take swift and decisive action to address these concerns and ensure that those appointed to serve the nation are of the highest moral and ethical standards.
