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No shortcuts

Sir, — This refers to the editorial, "No shortcuts, please" (May 4). The Patna High Court ruling that those behind bars should be disqualified from contesting elections is unacceptable. Even children have been put behind bars in Jharkhand under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). Ultimately, it is we who have to isolate the criminal elements by casting our vote against them.

Ganesh,
Virudhunagar, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — The High Court ruling, if implemented, will surely be reduced to a tool for settling political scores, as has been the case with POTA. Other measures should be used to end the nexus between criminals and politicians.

Lakshmi Sukumar,
Alappuzha, Kerala

* * * Kasim Sait,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — The editorial is thought provoking. Criminals contesting elections has become a common phenomenon. The law is adequate to take care of them but the politicians have to act.

A.P.V.S. Naga Mohan,
Kurnool, A.P.

* * *

Sir, — There is increasing demand that politics be cleansed of unsavoury elements. As a first step, parties themselves should refuse to field candidates who do not have a clean record, and prevent people with criminal links from campaigning for them.

S. Janakiraman,
Coimbatore

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