Moily promises Comprehensive Poll Reforms to Curb Criminalization of Politics
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Mar 24:  Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily has indicated Centre’s resolve to come out with a legislation for comprehensive electoral reforms to curb criminalization of politics.

The proposed legislation was presently under serious consideration of the Congress-led UPA regime and would be finalized soon, he said disclosing that the government was likely to introduce the relevant bill in parliament by August-September.

A two-day national workshop on electoral reforms would be convened in the city in June to discuss the proposed measures, he said adding: ``I have made a lot of preparations and we would like to involve all the political parties, academics and all other experts in the workshop.”

The Indrajit Gupta and Dinesh Goswami committee reports and others on electoral reforms would be looked into, he said promising to incorporate the experiences of other parliamentary democracies.

The government planned to convene a meeting of experts and other legal luminaries to discuss the second generation of reforms in legal education in early May.

US must allow India to interrogate Headley:

Asked about India’s stand on the interrogation of Lashkar operative David Coleman Headley, Moily asserted that US should permit Indian investigators to probe and question the terrorist for his role in the Mumbai terror attacks even while making it clear that the government would like to draw comparisons between  FBI being permitted to probe Ajmal Kasab.

Making it clear that the government was not interested in passing value judgements on US stand vis-à-vis that of India, Moily said the country’s position was very firm as far as Headley was concerned in view of the clearly established facts regarding his involvement.

"One day or the other, US will have to agree and expedite the issue. Headley will have to undergo interrogation by our agencies,” Moily said

However, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake had recently claimed that Headley cannot be extradited to India now but Indian investigators would be allowed to interrogate him. ``Under the plea bargain agreement that was announced, US would not extradite Headley either to India or to Pakistan or to Denmark on the charges for which he is now admitted guilty. That does not mean that at some future date, some additional charges could not be brought,” Blake had said.

Headley had pleaded guilty before a Chicago court on March 18, admitting he had scouted for targets ahead of a brazen terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008. As per law, Headley will not face any trial or won’t be given the death penalty.  Under the plea bargain, Headley has escaped the death penalty.