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A total of 163 ( 68 per cent) out of the 241 winners in the Bihar Assembly polls have declared criminal cases against themselves in the poll affidavits, with <keyword id="42678" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="RJD">RJD</keyword> topping the list with around 73 per cent, Bihar Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said. Of the 163 MLA-elects, 123 (51 per cent of total affidavits analysed) have serious criminal cases pending against them, including those related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and crimes against women. In the 2015 Assembly elections, 142 (58 per cent) MLAs had self-declared such cases against them in their affidavits. This time, the ADR had analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 241 of the 243 victorious candidates. The ADR did not say anything on such details of remaining winners. The results of the three-phase elections were declared on Wednesday early morning after counting that went on for over 20 hours. Out of the 123 winners, 19 have murder cases, 31 attempt to murder and eight crimes against women against their names. Among the major parties, 54 (73 per cent) of the 74 winners from Tejashwi Yadav-led <keyword id="123786" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rashtriya-Janata-Dal">Rashtriya Janata Dal</keyword> (RJD) have pending criminal cases, followed by 47 (64 per cent) out of 73 from BJP, 20 (47 per cent) out of 43 from Janata Dal-United, 16 (84 per cent) out of 19 from Congress, 10 (83 per cent) out of 12 from Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist Liberation, and five (100 per cent) out of 5 from Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. A total of 44 (60 per cent) out of 74 RJD winners, 35 (48 per cent) out of 73 from BJP, 11 (26 per cent) out of 43 from JD-U, 11 (58 per cent) out of 19 from Congress, eight (67 per cent) out of 12 from CPI-MLL and 5 (100 per cent) out of 5 from AIMIM have serious criminal cases pending against them. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/checkout-here-bihar-assembly-election-2020-results-and-updates-online/articleshow/79142084.cms">Bihar Election Results 2020: Final tally puts NDA in the majority with 125 seats as RJD remains the single largest party</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/psu-bank-employees-wage-revision-finalised-after-three-years-of-waiting-only-a-1500-increase-in-salary-for-officers/articleshow/79166497.cms">PSU bank employees wage revision finalised after three years of waiting — only a ₹1,500 increase in salary for officers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/instagram-down-users-complain-of-frozen-timelines-and-likes/articleshow/79146012.cms">Instagram down for nearly 24 hours— users continue to complain about frozen timelines and likes</a>

Nearly 70% of Bihar election winners have declared criminal cases against them, mostly from RJD

Out of the 1,463 candidates in the poll fray in the second phase of <keyword id="9317522" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-bihar-assembly">the Bihar Assembly</keyword> elections, 502 have criminal cases against them of which 389 are serious, a report claimed on Tuesday. The report was released by <keyword id="10176486" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-bihar-election-watch">the Bihar Election Watch</keyword> and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) after analysing the self-sworn affidavits of all the 1,463 candidates contesting in the Bihar Assembly Elections Phase II. The second phase of the polls is scheduled in 94 <keyword id="68073" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Assembly-constituencies">Assembly constituencies</keyword> in 17 districts on November 3. The report said that out of the 1,463 candidates analyzed, 502, which is 34 per cent, candidates have declared criminal cases against them. "While 389 candidates, which is 27 per cent of 1,463 candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves," the report said. The report also claimed that the <keyword id="123786" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rashtriya-Janata-Dal">Rashtriya Janata Dal</keyword> (RJD) has the maximum candidates with criminal cases registered against them followed by the BJP. It said, "Out of 56 RJD candidates, 36, which is 64 per cent, candidates have criminal cases against them, followed by the BJP with 29 out of 46 candidates which is 63 per cent." The report pointed out that out of the 24 Congress candidates, 14 have criminal cases against them which is 58 per cent, and out of 52 Lok Jan Shakti Party candidates 28, which is 54 per cent, also have criminal cases. The report pointed out that the ruling Janata Dal- United (JD-U) has the least number of candidates with criminal cases. "Out of 33 candidates in the second phase, 16, which is 49 per cent candidates from the BSP have criminal cases and from the JD-U, 20 out of 43 candidates, which is 47 per cent have declared criminal cases against them in their affidavits," the report said. The RJD again topped in the serious crime cases registered against candidates with 50 per cent, followed by the LJP with 46 per cent, the BJP with 44 per cent and the JD-U again at the bottom of the table with 35 per cent. The report said that out of the 50 candidates of the RJD, who were analysed, 28 have serious cases registered against them followed by the LJP with 24 out of 52 candidates, and 20 out of the 46 BJP candidates have serious cases against them. The report said that 14 out of the 33 candidates of the <keyword id="6356515" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="bahujan-samaj-party">Bahujan Samaj Party</keyword> (BSP), 10 out of 24 candidates of the Congress and 15 out of 43 candidates of the JD-U have serious criminal cases against them. It said that 49 candidates have declared cases related to crime against women, with four of them facing charges of rape. The report noted that 32 candidates are facing cases related to murder while 143 candidates are facing cases related to attempt to murder. It also said that in the second phase Assembly polls, 84 out of the 94 constituencies are red alert ones, which is a total of 89 per cent. According to the ADR, red alert constituencies are those where three or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases registered against them. The report said that the directions of the Supreme Court have had no effect on the political parties in the selection of the candidates in Bihar as they have again followed their old practice of giving tickets to around 34 per cent candidates with criminal cases. It said all major parties contesting in Bihar second phase elections have given tickets to 47 per cent to 64 per cent candidates, who have declared criminal cases against them. It said the Supreme Court in its directions dated February 13 had specifically instructed the political parties to give reasons for such selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates. As per these mandatory guidelines, the candidates have to be selected with reference to qualifications, achievements and merit. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/hcl-tech-is-looking-to-expand-operations-in-canada-if-h-1b-visa-issues-persist/articleshow/78884838.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink"> EXCLUSIVE: HCL Tech is expanding operations in Canada as H-1B visa issues persist</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/bezos-vs-ambani-battle-eight-questions-regarding-amazons-disclosures-of-future-deal-will-be-in-the-spotlight/articleshow/78883583.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Bezos vs Ambani battle: Eight questions regarding Amazon's disclosures of Future deal will be in the spotlight</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/news/how-to-register-for-neet-counselling-2020-online/articleshow/78884869.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">NEET counselling 2020 registrations begin today: Here’s all you need to know</a>

Bihar polls: 502 candidates have criminal cases, Lalu Yadav’s RJD tops the list

Red Alert Constituency In First Phase Election

New Delhi, More than 10 years after a Supreme Court judgement paved way for introduction of the <keyword id="20335981" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nota" source="keywords">NOTA</keyword> button on EVM for polls, the number of voters choosing it still remains low, with the experts dubbing it as a "toothless tiger" with no implications on the results. NOTA (None of the Above) was introduced in India through the Supreme Court's judgement in September 2013. The need to introduce NOTA was felt to discourage the parties from fielding tainted candidates. The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to make necessary provision in the ballot papers/EVMs so that the voters can decide not to vote for any of the candidates in the fray. Introduced in 2013, the NOTA option on electronic voting machines has its own symbol - a ballot paper with a black cross across it. After the Supreme Court order in September 2013, the Election Commission added the NOTA button on the EVMs as the last option on the voting panel. One ballot unit has 16 buttons. Before the apex court order, those not inclined to vote for any candidate had the option of filling what is popularly called form 49-O. But filling out the form at the polling station under Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, compromised the secrecy of the voter. However, even as NOTA has secured over 1.29 crore votes in the state assembly elections and the <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> elections combined in the last five years, the number of candidates with criminal records has increased in both the general and the assembly elections. According to a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the share of MPs with declared criminal cases against them has been increasing in the last decade. While 30 per cent elected MPs had criminal cases against them in 2009, which went up. Of the 543 winners analysed by the ADR in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, 162 (30 per cent) had declared criminal cases against them, with 76 (14 per cent) had serious criminal cases against them. In 2019, the share of MPs with criminal and serious criminal cases increased to 43 per cent and 29 per cent. "NOTA has made no difference as far as criminality is concerned, in fact the number of candidates with criminal cases has increased," Major General (Retd) Anil Verma, Head of ADR, told PTI. "The concept of NOTA was that some pressure would be on the parties not to field tainted candidates. It has not happened," he said. Overall in different state and general elections, votes polled on NOTA have been between .5 per cent to 1.5per cent, according to data compiled by the ADR. It secured around 1.06 per cent votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, and among states, highest was when it got 1.98 percent of the total votes in the 2018 Chhattisgarh Assembly polls. The lowest number of votes NOTA in the Lok Sabha was 100 votes in Lakshadweep, and among the state polls, it secured the lowest percentage of vote share - 0.46 percent in both the Delhi State Assembly Elections, 2020, and the Mizoram State Assembly Elections, 2018. "Unfortunately, it turned out to be a toothless tiger. It merely provided a platform to express dissent or one's anger for political parties to take note and nothing more," <keyword id="20887282" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maj-gen-verma" source="keywords">Maj Gen Verma</keyword> (Retd) said. He, however, pointed out that overall, the percentage of NOTA votes in seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribe has been slightly higher, which may indicate there are more grievances among these groups. "In the reserved constituencies, we have seen the percentage of NOTA votes are higher. Perhaps the tribals and SCs have more grievances so they go in larger numbers for NOTA," he said. Constituency wise, NOTA has secured as high as 27,500 votes in Maharashtra's Latur Rural constituency, a seat reserved for the SC community, over 13 per cent of the total votes. NOTA got the second spot, with Congress' Dhiraj Deshmukh winning with over 67 per cent of the total votes. In 'Red Alert Constituencies', the seats with three or more candidates with criminal cases contesting the elections, NOTA secured 26, 77,616 votes (26.77 lakhs) in the state assembly elections since 2018. It ranges from 1.63 per cent in Bihar in 217 red alert constituencies to 0.43 per cent in Delhi. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the highest number of NOTA votes (51,660) were polled in Bihar's Gopalganj, another reserved SC constituency, where it secured the third spot getting 5.03 per cent of the total votes. Axis India chairman <keyword id="20816878" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pradeep-gupta" source="keywords">Pradeep Gupta</keyword> said there is a requirement to give more teeth to the NOTA option. "I believe that candidates, who have lost against NOTA should not get a chance to contest again. That is what the logic is all about. Since there is no such rule, many voters think what is the point of choosing NOTA," Gupta told PTI. "In 2014, 1.08 pc voters chose NOTA, the percentage was 1.06 pc in 2019. It is a sizeable number but I believe it is more due to error and less due to intention," Gupta said. "But if a rule is brought in barring the rejected candidates from contesting again, I believe the number will go up like anything. The political parties understand the sensitivity of this and that is why I believe no one will favour such a law and hence NOTA is a toothless option," he added. Calls have also been made for scrapping NOTA. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel had last year sought scrapping NOTA, stating that in certain cases it polled more votes than winning margin. In 2018, the Supreme Court had ruled that NOTA option should not be given in the <keyword id="19895369" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rajya-sabha" source="keywords">Rajya Sabha</keyword> elections.

None of the Above or NOTA toothless without right to reject, say experts

In the 2019 parliamentary polls, voters in Bihar's <keyword id="20327545" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gopalganj" source="keywords">Gopalganj</keyword> had created a record with 51,660 of them, or five per cent, opting for the <keyword id="20335981" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="NOTA" source="keywords">NOTA</keyword> option, which is placed as the last option on the electronic voting machine. As per the latest trends available on the <keyword id="19895782" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Election-Commission" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Election Commission" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Election Commission">Election Commission</keyword>'s website at 3.15 PM, over 4.62 lakh (0.99 per cent of the total voters opted for NOTA. Out of 61,31,33,300 votes polled in the 2019 polls, 65,14,558 (1.06 per cent) were polled for NOTA. Similarly in 2014 parliamentary elections, out of 55,38,02,946 votes polled, 60,02,942 (1.08 per cent) were polled for NOTA. The <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword> had received a jolt in the <keyword id="19930878" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indore" source="keywords">Indore</keyword> Lok Sabha seat after its candidate <keyword id="21466595" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="akshay-kanti-bam" source="keywords">Akshay Kanti Bam</keyword> withdrew his nomination on April 29, the last date for the withdrawal of nominations. Bam later joined the <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BJP" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BJP">BJP</keyword>, prompting the Congress to appeal to the people to press the NOTA option on EVMs during polling in Indore on May 13. Former Chief Election Commissioner O P <keyword id="19965032" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rawat" source="keywords">Rawat</keyword> had recently described NOTA as having a "symbolic" impact and had said if it gets more than 50 per cent votes in a seat, only then making it legally effective on poll results could be considered. Rawat had also told PTI that if 99 out of 100 votes go in favour of NOTA option and someone gets one vote, even then the canidate will emerge victorious. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Indore recorded 69 per cent turnout with 5,045 voters opting for NOTA. Rawat said, "In the present situation, NOTA has only symbolic significance and it cannot have an impact on the election result of any seat." "More than 50 per cent electors will have to once opt for NOTA in a seat to show the political community that they do not consider candidates with criminal background or other undeserving ones worthy of their votes. Only after this, pressure on Parliament and the Election Commission will increase and they will have to think about changing laws to make NOTA effective on the election results," he said.

With 2.18 lakh voters, NOTA creates record in Madhya Pradesh's Indore seat

Bihar might be on the cusp of a major generational shift in politics as it braced for Tuesday's counting of votes for the assembly election, with most pollsters predicting a landslide for the five-party Grand Alliance led by the young RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Counting will be taken up at 55 centres across 38 districts where the outcome will decide the fate of the Nitish Kumar government that has helmed the state for a decade and half. Most exit polls have predicted a rout for the ruling JD(U)-BJP combine and a resounding victory for the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) led by RJD's 31-year-old chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav, who has thrown down the gauntlet at redoubtable Nitish Kumar, the battle-scarred veteran more than twice his age. The Election Commission is making sure that the winds of potential change cause no disruption in the counting process. According to Chief Electoral Officer H R Srinavasa, central armed police forces have been deployed at the strong rooms, where the EVMs have been stored since the completion of voting, and the halls where these will be unsealed Tuesday morning after counting of postal ballots gets over. The state has 243 assembly constituencies and the most keenly watched will obviously be Raghopur in Vaishali district from where Tejashwi Yadav is seeking re-election. Kumar is a member of the legislative council and has not contested the assembly election. Raghopur has been in the past represented by his parents Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi both former chief ministers. Tejashwi's elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav is contesting from Hasanpur in Samastipur district. In addition, Tuesday's counting will also decide the political fate of nearly a score of ministers. Prominent among them are Nand Kishore Yadav (Patna Sahib), Pramod Kumar (Motihari), Rana Randhir (Madhuban), Suresh Sharma (Muzaffarpur), Shrawan Kumar (Nalanda), Jai Kumar Singh (Dinara) and Krishnanandan Prasad Verma (Jehanabad). With much of the NDA's election narrative focusing on RJD's association with "jungle raj", an allusion to the alleged collapsed law and order during the 15 years when Lalu-Rabri ruled the state in succession, the fate of "bahubalis", leaders known for strong arm tactics, will also be keenly watched. Two of the most notorious criminal-turned-politicians- Anant Singh (Mokama) and Reetlal Yadav (Danapur)- are contesting on RJD tickets. A win for the RJD-led coalition will bring a redemption of sorts for Tejashwi Yadav whose leadership abilities were called into question after his party failed to win a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections last year. The NDA had won 39 of the 40 seats and one had gone to the Congress, an RJD ally. It may also revive the fortunes of the three Left parties--The CPI, CPI-M and CPI-ML--which were consigned to near oblivion over the past two decades. The five-party 'Mahagathbandhan' also comprises these three Left parties, which were a force to reckon with in the past. Election officials and district administrations face the daunting task of restraining supporters of political parties from crowding the counting centres amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Prohibitory orders will be be place outside the counting centres to prevent people from gathering in large numbers, officials said. According to Srinivasa, while 19 companies of the central armed police forces will be deployed at strong rooms and the halls where counting will take place, another 59 have been entrusted with maintaining law and order. Each company comprises roughly 100 personnel. Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Jitendra Kumar said Bihar Military Police and local police will also chip in while senior officials will keep a watch through display screens connected to CCTV cameras installed at the counting centres. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/hyperloop-pod-carries-two-humans-through-a-tube-at-over-160-kmph-for-the-first-time-ever/articleshow/79121765.cms">Hyperloop pod carries two humans through a tube at over 160 kmph for the first time ever</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/top-cyber-espionage-groups-that-have-india-in-their-crosshairs/slidelist/79120867.cms">Top cyber espionage groups that have India in their crosshairs</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/bigbasket-the-e-grocery-startup-which-tata-group-is-eyeing-admits-a-data-breach-of-over-20-million-users/articleshow/79122791.cms">BigBasket, the e-grocery startup which Tata Group is eyeing, admits a data breach of over 20 million users</a>

Bihar readies for D-day as polls forecast JDU-BJP win

<ul><li>In March 2018, <keyword id="21259" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lalu-Prasad">Lalu Prasad</keyword> was sentenced in the fourth <keyword id="6362256" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="fodder-scam">fodder scam</keyword> case to 14 years in jail and fined ₹6 million. </li><li>He has been serving time in the Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi since 23 December 2017. </li><li>In September 2013, Lalu Prasad, <keyword id="119222" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jagannath-Mishra">Jagannath Mishra</keyword> and 45 others convicted in the <keyword id="1718140" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chaibasa-treasury">Chaibasa Treasury</keyword> case. In the first of the six cases levied against him, Lalu was sentenced to five years in jail.</li></ul> <keyword id="18656" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lalu-Prasad-Yadav">Lalu Prasad Yadav</keyword> the (erstwhile) indomitable leader of the <keyword id="123786" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rashtriya-Janata-Dal">Rashtriya Janata Dal</keyword> (RJD) seems to have bitten off more than he can chew with the all-too-famous Fodder Scam. Just last month he was sentenced for the fourth time to <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fodder-scam-case-lalu-prasad-sentenced-to-14-yrs-in-prison/articleshow/63440143.cms">14 years in jail and fined </a>₹60,00,000. He has already been serving time in the Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi since 23 December 2017. The scam that spiralled into a multi-million scandal began with the small-scale falsification of transactions related to syphoning of government funds in the name of buying livestock and supplying fodder. Basically, in the name of non-existent livestock, thousands and thousands of rupees worth of fake bills were made out to be paid to suppliers for fodder, medicines and animal husbandry equipment. What is to be noted that this practice was not exclusively created by Lalu Prasad and his party, but had been at the very core of the functioning of the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) of Bihar since <a href="https://www.firstpost.com/politics/fodder-scam-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-21-year-old-case-against-lalu-prasad-yadav-3432192.html">20 years past</a>. The scam involved politicians and bureaucrats belonging to previous administrations for decades with Lalu Prasad perpetuating the practice. In 1985, comptroller and auditor general of India, TN Chaturvedi, found something amiss when he noticed that the Bihar treasury inevitably submitted their monthly accounts later than the due date. In January 1996, deputy commissioner of Chaibasa, Amit Khare, launched a raid at the Animal Husbandry Department where they discovered the documents confirming illegal withdrawals and uncovered a nexus between officials and suppliers. In March 1996, the Patna High court gets the CBI to look into the fodder scam and subsequently, the CBI registered an FIR in the Chaibasa (now in Jharkhand) Treasury case. In June-July 1997, a CBI enquiry in the case was launched based on a PIL filed by BJP state unit chief <keyword id="6364740" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="sushil-kumar-modi">Sushil Kumar Modi</keyword> in the Patna High Court. Lalu Prasad Yadav and former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra were both named in this charge sheet along with 55 other co-accused. This led to Lalu’s relinquishing the Chief Minister seat in July to his wife - a political masterstroke. Lalu then surrendered before CBI court and was subsequently sent to judicial custody. After four months he was released on bail. In April 2001, Lalu Prasad’s wife, <a href="https://www.livemint.com/Politics/IfdjSRYTn0nD6yzYQ4spRO/Fodder-scam-case-A-timeline-of-events.html">Rabri Devi joined the list of accused</a> in the scam but was granted bail. In October 2001, after the bifurcation of Bihar, <a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/dec/23/a-timeline-of-the-fodder-scam-that-changed-bihar-politics-forever-1735327.html">53 of the total 63 fodder scam cases</a> were moved to the newly created state of Jharkhand by the <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword>. In December 2006, a Patna lower court acquits both Lalu and his wife in a disproportionate assets case filed by CBI. In March 2012, the CBI court frames charges against Lalu Prasad and his predecessor Jagannath Mishra, amongst others. In September 2013, Lalu Prasad, Jagannath Mishra and 45 others convicted in the Chaibasa Treasury case involving the withdrawal of ₹377 million from the Chaibasa treasury. In the first of the six cases levied against him, Lalu is sentenced to five years in jail but gets out in three months on bail. He is disqualified as Lok Sabha member and debarred from contesting elections. In November 2014, the <keyword id="6382425" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="jharkhand-high-court">Jharkhand High Court</keyword> drops four pending criminal conspiracy cases against Lalu on grounds of a convicted person cannot be repeatedly be tried for similar cases based on same witnesses and evidence. In May 2017, the Supreme Court quashes the Jharkhand High Court’s decision and reinstates the charges. Lalu to be tried on each of the five remaining cases against him. In December 2017, CBI court convicts Lalu Prasad Yadav in the second — illegal withdrawal of money from the Deogarh treasury — fodder scam case but acquits Jagannath Mishra. In January 2018, Lalu Prasad sentenced to <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/fodder-scam-case-lalu-prasad-sentenced-to-threeandahalf-years-in-jail/article10018142.ece">three and a half years in jail</a> and a 10 lakh rupee fine by the special CBI court. Later that month, in the <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/lalu-prasad-jagannath-mishra-convicted-in-third-fodder-scam-case/article22506233.ece">third case</a> pertaining to the fraudulent withdrawal of ₹336.7 million from Chaibasa district treasury, both Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra were awarded an additional five years jail and ₹1 million fine. In March 2018, Lalu Prasad was sentenced in the fourth fodder scam case to 14 years in jail and fined ₹6 million. This is by far the severest sentence doled out to the 69-year-old RJD chief so far.

1985-2018: How Lalu Prasad Yadav got multiple jail terms for the Fodder Scam

<ul><li>In the Indian state of Bihar, a case has been filed against the lead actors — Anupam Kher of "New Amsterdam" and Akshaye Khanna — and others associated with the movie "<keyword id="1993208" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Accidental-Prime-Minister">Accidental Prime Minister</keyword>".</li><li>The lawyer that filed the case alleges that he felt ‘hurt’ upon watching the promos of the upcoming movie and claims that the films projects India as well as its political leaders a 'poor light’.</li><li>The President of the Maharashtra State Youth Congress, Satyajeet Tambe Patil, has demanded a 'special screening' of the movie citing that he is concerned about 'the incorrect representation of facts'.</li><li>The "Accidental Prime Minister", set to launch on January 11, is facing controversy on social media after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s governing party, posted a tweet promoting the film.</li><li>Users on social media are claiming that the making of the film is probably influenced by the political party showing the opposing party, Congress, in an unfavourable light.</li></ul>The "Accidental Prime Minister" created waves when the book first came out and now the trailer of the political drama is creating buzz on social media — and it continuing to do so after five days after its release. A lawyer in the Indian state of Bihar has filed a petition against the people associated with movie about India’s former prime minister, Manmohan Singh. He is alleging that the promotional trailer of the movie has ‘hurt’ his sentiments. That includes the lead actor of "Accidental Prime Minister" Anupam Kher, Akshaye Khanna playing the former prime minister’s media advisor, Suzanne Bernert playing Sonia Gandhi and Aahana Kumra playing Priyanka Gandhi among others. The PIL filed in local courts also claims that the movie projects India and its political leaders unfavourably to the rest of the world. It’s not only about India’s former prime minister, but also other noted Indian politicians like Lalu Prasad, Mayawati and another former prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The petition has been filed under the sections of Indian Penal Code that relate to promoting enmity between different groups, sale of obscene objects, insult with intent to provoke breach of peace and criminal conspiracy. What's the big deal? The content of the biopic has been called into question after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the current ruling party of India's central government, posted a tweet promoting the film. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="BJP4India" handlename="BJP" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/812531108092874753/frVON4bm_normal.jpg" favoritecount="12599" retweetcount="4412" status="Riveting tale of how a family held the country to ransom for 10 long years. Was Dr Singh just a regent who was hold… https://t.co/kIcWZrkVdu" createdat="1545926460000" id="1078319849082839041"></div>














 The main point of contention seems to be that political parties aren’t normally seen propagating commercial films and the timing of the BJP sharing such an update ahead of the 2019 General Elections in India seems to be ill-advised. Others who claim the film is unfair The movie has created such controversy that the President of the Maharashtra State Youth Congress, Satyajeet Tambe Patil, went as far to write a letter to producer of the film demanding a ‘special screening’ ahead of its release. Patil questioned the accuracy of the film stating that there is an ‘incorrect presentation of facts’. The issue is that with the BJP tweeting about the film, most people on social media opine that the making if the film is influenced to show the opposing political party, Congress, in an unfavourable light. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="sadhavi" handlename="Sadhavi Khosla" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1073180886168944640/VGMXFjX2_normal.jpg" favoritecount="1948" retweetcount="827" status="A political party promoting a commercial film - hence endorsing that its self produced for propaganda and for defam… https://t.co/qZkgMIj0h5" createdat="1545928238000" id="1078327304189853697"></div>















 Some even believe that this isn't anything more than a publicity stunt. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="akashbanerjee" handlename="Akash Banerjee" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1072532908542431233/y-1Vim3H_normal.jpg" favoritecount="6764" retweetcount="1306" status="Sources: Tickets to #AccidentalPrimeMinister will be available at @bookmyshow &amp; all BJP offices." createdat="1545989167000" id="1078582859160584192"></div>















 
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="OmarAbdullah" handlename="Omar Abdullah" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1071666850218545157/UJEF9IMT_normal.jpg" favoritecount="13479" retweetcount="3002" status="Can’t wait for when they make The Insensitive Prime Minister. So much worse than being the accidental one." createdat="1545979469000" id="1078542185157537792"></div>









 Actors and others associated with the 'Accidental Prime Minister' stand by it Renowned <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> director, Hansal Mehta, stated that <keyword id="2193106" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Accidental-Prime-Minister">the Accidental Prime Minister</keyword> is not a film that takes sides but simply a drama about democracy ‘that has always been bogged down by personality cults’. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="mehtahansal" handlename="Hansal Mehta" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1028846272155856896/yxHaMe9k_normal.jpg" favoritecount="353" retweetcount="67" status="Inspite of differing political views of many of us I've never seen #TheAccidentalPrimeMinister as a film that takes… https://t.co/xH7dHnF5m9" createdat="1545905360000" id="1078231348593156096"></div>














 Kher also maintains that the movie is an accurate depiction of events. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="AnupamPKher" handlename="Anupam Kher" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1059456064482144257/tCqvUn38_normal.jpg" favoritecount="3237" retweetcount="698" status="I am not going to back off. This is my life’s best performance. #DrManmohanSingh will agree after seeing the film t… https://t.co/6Zwe78owQX" createdat="1545989498000" id="1078584246674042880"></div>














 He even wrote to YouTube about how the trailer for the movie isn’t appearing in the platform’s search results. 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="AnupamPKher" handlename="Anupam Kher" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1059456064482144257/tCqvUn38_normal.jpg" favoritecount="5489" retweetcount="1650" status="Dear @YouTube!!! I am getting messages &amp; calls that in parts of our country if you type, trailer of… https://t.co/eDvmTZeehI" createdat="1546345365000" id="1080076863010091009"></div>





















 The political party at the center of the controversy, BJP, retaliated to naysayers claiming that political leaders like Rahul Gandhi, the president of Indian National Congress, and the Arvind Kerjiwal, the chief minister of Delhi, tweeted about "Udta Punjab" — a film on Punjab's drug problem — in the past. That too at a time when BJP's ally, Akali Dal, was the ruling party in the Indian state of Punjab. Manmohan Singh <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/manmohan-singh-asked-about-the-accidental-prime-minister-his-response-1969249">declined</a> to comment on the release of the movie when he was asked for his reaction outside the Congress office earlier today. 
	
	
	
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="sardesairajdeep" handlename="Rajdeep Sardesai" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1027463758854189057/zInujNK9_normal.jpg" favoritecount="11044" retweetcount="1980" status="Through all the needless controversy over The Accidental Prime Minister, the one person who comes across with digni… https://t.co/l8ZE2IbhxQ" createdat="1546023387000" id="1078726387928842240"></div>













 The endorsement by the BJP could undercut the credibility of the movie that’s set to come out on January 11, 2019. The 'Accidental Prime Minister' stars Anupam Kher playing the lead character, Manmohan Singh, and Akshaye Khanna playing Sanjaya Baru, the former Prime Minister’s media advisor.

Bollywood film on former Indian PM is at the epicenter of a massive political controversy in India — and now there's a claim that it's projecting the country's political leaders in poor light

Three months on the road, promoting my new book in America, Singapore and Europe have been an extraordinarily eye-opening experience. In this book, called “Conquering the Chaos; Win in India, Win Everywhere”, I look at why most <keyword id="6409042" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="MNCs">MNCs</keyword> have failed to make India an important market and what might be the consequences of this. Most MNCs in India are part of a “1 percent club” where India contributes an irrelevant 1% or less of their global profits. They tend to blame this on the challenges of doing business in India. A key point in the book is that chaotic India is in fact highly representative of most emerging markets. Corruption, bureaucracy, policy uncertainty and volatility, harassment by the taxman, inadequate protection for IP, poor infrastructure etc. are not unique to India alone; they are characteristics 
 
of all emerging markets and MNCs can’t escape this chaos in Brazil, Indonesia or Nigeria as well. Companies that have done spectacularly well in India such as Suzuki, Unilever, JCB, Cummins, Nokia, Standard Chartered, Hyundai or Schneider Electric have learned to thrive in the midst of chaos and having succeeded in India, they find that they have developed the capabilities, mindset, talent and innovative products and business models that help them succeed elsewhere. This is why the subtitle of the book is “Win in India, win everywhere”. These companies are not waiting for India to get better or look like a more developed market; they are instead adapting themselves and their business model to the realities of India and being richly rewarded for this. I contrast their approach with that of companies like Apple or Caterpillar who hesitate to commit to India until things get better allowing competitors like Samsung or JCB to eat their lunch. While India is a very challenging market, the bigger challenge for many MNCs is their own headquarters mindset. Such companies will find the going to be tough not just in India but all emerging markets. 
 
Since our economy is in such dire straits and our reputation as a rising nation so tarnished, I was fully prepared for a lot of pushback and criticism of my rather contrarian views. In fact, I was surprised by the fairly ready acceptance of my thesis. The only pushback I got was, “Are you letting the government of India off the hook too easily?” 
 
It is certainly true that India is one of the toughest places in the world for a business (ranked 132 out of 200 countries according to the World Bank). If the government wants to jump start the economy and attract FDI, it certainly needs to make India a less hostile place. But my point is that even in a 
 
tough market and a slowing economy, it is possible at the firm level to carve out a very successful business. And this is what companies like Samsung have shown. However I wasn’t prepared for one question which really flummoxed me; it came from a wise former US Ambassador to India. “So what you are saying in effect is that India will continue to be a lower middle income country, like much 
 
of Africa and South America instead of someday catching up with Europe or even China; isn’t that a rather tragic scenario for a country with such amazing potential?”, he asked. 
 
The question stopped me in my tracks and has rankled ever since. It’s fine to dish out advice to companies on how to prosper despite the chaos but what about India itself? As an Indian, I had sort 
 
of come to believe the rhetoric of Incredible India. I had come to believe that despite all our many challenges we would stumble our way forward-if not to great power status, at least to the status of a developed nation. Rather naively, I had thought this might happen even in my lifetime, but as I reflected on the question and on the events playing out in our country, it struck me that the good Ambassador had in fact asked the most relevant question. It’s not about our potential but rather how much of it we are likely to realize. 
 
As a CEO who has run large companies, I have learned that sustained performance has less to do with ambition, opportunities, or resources; long term performance is in fact the outcome of strategic choices, organizational capabilities, company culture, and above all, leadership. Over time, I have realized that this is true not just for a company, but for any organization and perhaps even for a country. And this framework highlights India’s problems. 
 
For a start, we cannot agree on ideas let alone strategies for anything. What should our policy be towards Pakistan? Towards China? Towards America? What is our strategy for economic development? How are we going to balance growth and the need for more equitable distribution? Is globalization positive for India or not? Are we going to welcome foreign companies and the investments, technology, and jobs that they bring or are we going to remain distrustful of them? Indeed are we going to be welcoming of businessmen and entrepreneurs or go back to Nehruvian distrust that crushed our economic potential? How are basic healthcare and education going to be delivered? How much should be left to the private sector? How are we going to improve our infrastructure? On any number of fundamental questions, there isn’t coherent thinking; we simply muddle along. 
 
The issue of institutional capabilities is even more troubling. We could have all the ambition and even strategic clarity but without strong institutional capabilities, nothing can happen. “It’s like trying to go to the moon on a bullock cart; no matter how much you flog the bulls, you won’t get there.” says spiritual leader Jaggi Vasudev. We have to upgrade our capability from bullock cart to spacecraft. Many of our institutions are still in the 19t century; perhaps some like the ICS were stronger then than today. Harvard economist Lant Pritchett points to rampant absenteeism, indifference, incompetence and corruption in many of our institutions and suggests India is a ‘flailing state”. How can we reasonably expect anything to be implemented when our implementation capabilities are so compromised? Historian Ram Guha points to the deliberate and systematic erosion of many of our critical institutions–law enforcement, judiciary–and posits that instability may be India’s destiny. 
 
How about culture? It is easy to blame the current situation on politicians and babus, but what about us? While there are indeed incredible aspects to our culture, there are some things that are truly shameful. Even Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the father of our Constitution, recognized that we are a fundamentally undemocratic and amoral culture. Take corruption. It’s very easy to blame the person asking for the bribe, but what about the person paying it? Why pay a fine for running a traffic light when you can get away by offering Rs 100? Why suffer a delay of some months getting a property transaction registered when you can pay a bribe and get it done today? Most of us have become so used to corruption that we fail to see much wrong with it. The whole pond has now got poisoned and it is hard to find a single sphere of activity that isn’t highly corrupt-business, civil society, education, even religion. No act is now so brazen as to be truly 
 
shocking. Lack of concern for the commons, evident from the condition of our public spaces, for instance, is another striking feature. I couldn’t help but notice that in New York City, every little public space has a small little garden or flower patch tended by volunteers. In India, every one of those would likely be a garbage dump. What about dodging taxes? In a country of nearly 100 official billionaires and zooming luxury car sales, is it not egregious that only 40,000 people, almost all of whom are professionals with tax deducted at source, have a declared income of over INR 1 crore? After visiting Europe many times, I cannot but be impressed by the extent to which European society focuses on the rights and needs of its weakest and most marginalized members of society. Yet we dismiss them as weak society in terminal decline even as we shrug indifferently at the death of children in Bihar who were fed a poisoned midday meal or at the countless daily acts of violence against women. Which is the better society? Where would you rather live? 
 
This brings me to the matter of leadership. Human nature is not fundamentally different around the world. If people in Singapore or Switzerland follow the rules diligently, pay taxes, and don’t litter, it isn’t because they are different or better. It’s because these countries have rules, regulations, and laws and swift and equal consequences for violating them. This happens because they have built strong institutions and a strong culture which in turn are a product of good governance and good leadership. The ultimate failure in our country is one of leadership and governance. It is impossible for India to make any progress on any front when self-interest trumps national interest every time. We have gradually allowed our country and our society to be hijacked by people who are criminals at worst and self-serving at best. For the most part, those at the helm of affairs today have little interest in India’s development. 30% of Lok Sabha members are criminals; 369 MPs and MLAs have been convicted of crimes against women. 100% of our parliamentarians under the age of 30 are children of politicians; so are 2/3rds of those under the age of 40. These aren’t the people focused on the country’s development. This extraordinary corruption and selfishness is true not just in politics and not just in the civil services or judiciary. It is equally true in business where much of the prosperity has been created more by crony capitalism than real entrepreneurship. And to an extent it applies to all of us, the urban middle class, who have chosen to stay disengaged and simply feather our own nests. 
 
I cannot claim to have a good solution but it does strike me that we have a few choices. Some of us can emigrate-as many did in the seventies and eighties. Others can erect stronger moats around our gated communities and try to keep the chaos 
 
at bay. We could turn to religion and pray for things to get better. We can pray for a savior like Mahatma Gandhi to arise and lead us to a better future. Or at least a benevolent strongman like Lee Kwan Yew though India seems much too complex to be led by a strongman. Or more of us could step up and demonstrate greater public spirit and leadership and try to reclaim India’s future. We could start by being good citizens-law abiding, paying taxes, voting in elections, refusing to pay bribes. We could join hands and protest strongly, publicly, peacefully against injustice-the suspension or transfer of an honest civil servant for instance. Activism matters more than we might think; Jessica Lal’s murderer would still be free if it weren’t for activism. India would not have an antirape Act if it weren’t for activism. We could donate generously and support the small number of individuals and non-profit organizations who are fighting courageously for better governance. And finally, handful of us could muster up the courage to jump into politics and tip the balance in favour of good. 
 
Progress has always hinged on the forces of good being stronger than the dark forces. Once we make a decision to be a force for good, we are limited only by our imagination. It is the educated middle class that ultimately determines the future of a society. It is time for us to step up. 
 
(Venkatesan is a Director on the Boards of Infosys and AB Volvo, and a Fellow of the Center for Higher Ambition Leadership, Boston. He is an advisor to several family businesses and entrepreneurial ventures. This article was contributed to Thinkers, a quarterly thought leadership magazine that features the brightest thinkers in the areas of economics and governance, philosophy and literature, science and technology, and management. To learn more about the magazine, please visit: <a href="http://www.thinkers.in/">www.thinkers.in</a> )

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