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The government is seeking a consensus on bringing about a comprehensive legislation in the monsoon session of Parliament to check criminalisation of politics and bring about probity in public life.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra quoted Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani as telling the all-party meeting on electoral reforms that the entire issue should be looked at in a pragmatic manner and practical steps be taken to achieve these goals.
Advani said the government appreciated the concerns of the Supreme Court in regard to checking criminalisation of the politics.
Malhotra said Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee maintained that Parliament was the only body, which was vested with the powers to enact laws seeking disqualification of the members. He also said many political leaders have had cases of 'political nature' slapped against them.
The meeting has been convened to review and assess the need for legislative intervention in the controversial notification by Election Commission making it mandatory for candidates to furnish details of their criminal antecedents, assets and liabilities and educational qualification.
It was being attended by among others Law Minister Jana Krishnamurthy, Minister of State for Law Ravi Shanker Prasad, Communist Party of India leaders A B Bardhan and J Chitranjan and several others.
The meeting is also expected to discuss the proposed setting up of National Judicial Commission.
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