[National Election Watch news] English Press Release “22% of the candidates have declared criminal cases against them.” “30% of the candidates are crorepatis”. Gujarat Election Watch (GEW) releases Reports of criminal, financial and other background details of contesting candidates for the first phase of Gujarat State Assembly Elections 2012.

ADR India adr@adrindia.org via googlegroups.com	4:05 PM (5 hours ago)
to national-elect., national-ew-ne.

<All reports in ENGLISH- Check other mail for HINDI version>

Dear Friends,

Please find attached the Analysis of Criminal, Financial and other details declared by candidates contesting in the 1st Phase of Gujarat Assembly Elections. Also attached in the Analysis of asset increase of 85 re-contesting Candidates 

For Detailed Reports on Analysis of ITR please visit http://adrindia.org/content/recent-upcoming-elections

Highlights of the report:

·         Gujarat Election Watch (GEW) has analyzed affidavits of 482 candidates out of 846 candidates who are contesting in the 1^st phase of Gujarat 2012 Assembly Elections.

·         Out of these 482 candidates analyzed for the 1^st phase of Gujarat Assembly Elections, 104 candidates or 22 % declared criminal cases against them. In 2007 assembly elections for the whole of Gujarat, 23% candidates had declared criminal cases against themselves.

·        Amongst major parties, every party has given tickets to candidates who have declared criminal cases. INC has 27 out of 83 (33 %), BJP has 22 out of 87 (25%) ,BSP has 7 out of 78 (9 %), JD(U) has 7 out of 29 (24 %), SP has 5 out of 19 (26%), NCP has 2 out of 3 (67%)and GPP has 21 out of 83 (25 %) candidates with declared criminal cases.

·         Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: Out of these 104 candidates with declared criminal cases, 46 have declared serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion etc. GPP has 11, INC has 8, BJP has 9, JD (U) has 6, NCP has 2 and BSP has 1 such candidates.

·        Candidates against whom charges have been framed: Out of these 104 candidates with declared criminal cases, charges have been framed against 73 candidates with cases of kidnapping, Murder, dacoity etc. 

·        Candidates with Heinous & Violent Crime Cases:The following candidates have declared serious criminal cases of murder, kidnapping and theft against them: (1) Vasava Chhotubhai Amarsinh (of JD(U) from Jhagadia(ST) constituency) has declared three charges of murder and 1 charge related to attempt to murder.(2) Maheshbhai chhotubhai Vasava (of JD(U) from Dediapada (ST) constituency) has declared two charges related to murder and 1 charge related to attempt to murder  (3) Patel Altaf Gafurbhai (of JD(U) contesting from Vagra constituency) has declared 1 charges related to murder 4)Somani Jitendrabhai Kantilal (BJP) from Wankaner constituency has declared two charges relating to attempt to murder 5) Arjunbhai Laljibhai Gamit (JD(U)) contesting from Nizar (ST) constituency too has declared two charges relating to attempt to murder amongst other charges.

• Candidates with cases under Prevention of Corruption Act:  1 Candidate have declared that they have cases registered against them under the “Prevention of Corruption Act”, namely Barad Jashabhai Bhanabhai (INC) from Somnath constituency.

Highlights of Analysis of Financial and Other Background details of Candidates Contesting in the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly Elections 2012

·         Gujarat Election Watch (GEW) has analyzed affidavits of 482 candidates out of 846 candidates who are contesting in the first phase of the Gujarat 2012 Assembly Elections.

·         A total of 147 candidates out of 482 analyzed i.e. 30% are crorepatis. In 2007, there were 21% crorepati candidates.

·         The top three candidates who have declared the highest assets are Rajguru Indranil Sanjaybhai of INC from Rajkot East constituency who has declared assets worth Rs. 122 crores, followed by Chavada Javaharbhai Pethalajibhai, of INC from Manavadar constituency with Rs. 82 crores worth of assets and Parmar Rajabhai Parbatbhai of BSP from Somnath constituency with assets worth Rs. 40 crores

·         A total of 39 candidates out of 482 analyzed have declared assets less than Rs. 1 Lakh.

·         The three candidates with lowest assets are Mineshbhai Maganbhai Patel of GPP from Valsad constituency who has declared that he has zero assets, followed by Bismilla Abdulkhan Pathan (IND) from Rajkot South constituency with assets worth Rs. 1000 only.

·         A total of 47 candidates out of 482 analyzed have declared liabilities of Rs. 50 lakhs or above.

·         The top three candidates with highest liabilities are Rajguru Indranil Sanjaybhai, an INC candidate from Rajkot East who has declared the highest liabilities worth Rs. 27.14 Crores followed by Jitendrabhai Kantilal Somani of BJP from Wankaner constituency with liabilities of Rs. 17.69 Crores and Kamabhai Gagjibhai Rathod a BJP candidate from Sanand constituency with liabilities of Rs. 12.45 Crores.

·         Among major parties, the average asset per candidate for INC is Rs 6.40 Crores, for BJP is 4.48 Crores, for GPP is 1.07 Crores, for BSP is 75.39 Lakhs, for JD(U) is 22.61 Lakhs, for SP is 19.54 Lakhs, and for NCP is Rs 10.43 Crores.

·         103 out of 482 (21%) candidates analyzed in the first phase of the Gujarat 2012 Assembly Elections have not declared their PAN details.

·         6 Crorepati Candidates have not declared their PAN details.

·         32 out of 78 candidates of BSP have not declared their PAN, 15 out of 83 candidates of GPP have not declared their PAN and 10 out of 19 of SP have not declared PAN details.

·         A total of 139 (29%) candidates (out of 482 analyzed) are graduate or with higher educational qualification.

·         Out of 482 contesting candidates analyzed in Gujarat 2012 Assembly Elections, the number of female candidates is 27 (6%). In 2007 Gujarat Elections the number of female candidates were 46 out of 553, i.e. only 8% for the whole state.

·         A total of 17 candidates out of the total 482 analyzed are more than 65 years of age.

Highlights of Report on Analysis of Income Tax Returns Details of candidates contesting in the first phase for Gujarat State Assembly Elections 2012:

1.  SOLANKI HIRABHAI ODHAVJIBHAI, of BJP from Rajula constituency has declared the highest income of Rs. 3.41 Crores in his last Income Tax return. He is followed by Italiya Ghanshyambhai Kanjibhai (GPP) from Katargam constituency and has declared income of Rs. 3.41 Crores in his last ITR, and Pabubha Virambha Manek, of BJP from Dwarka constituency who has declared income of Rs. 3.25 crore as per his last filed Income Tax Returns.

2.  A total of 240 candidates (50%) out of the 482 candidates analyzed by the Gujarat Election Watch have declared that they have never filed income tax returns.

3.  Out of the 240 candidates analyzed who have never filed income tax returns, BJP has 12 (14%) out of 87 candidates, INC has 16 (19%) out of 83 candidates, GPP has 35 (42%) out of 83 candidates and BSP has 61 (78%) out of 78 candidates, and JD(U) has 23(79%) out of 29 candidates who have not filed IT Returns.

4. High Assets but no IT Return: Top 3 candidates with maximum assets but who have never filed IT returns are Parmar Rajabhai Parbatbhai of BSP contesting from Somnath with total assets of Rs. 40.75 crores. He is followed by Jadeja Kandhalbhai Sarmanbhai of NCP from Kutiyana with assets of Rs. 28.29 crores and Vithalbhai Hanshrajbhai Radadia of INC from Dhoraji  with Rs. 5.62 crores respectively.

5. Gujarat Election Watch and ADR appeal to the voters of Gujarat to know what their candidates write in their affidavits so that they can make an informed choice on 13^th December 2012

Highlights of Report on Asset Comparison of Re-contesting Candidates and MLAs

Re-Contesting Candidates

·         85 re-contesting (candidates who fought elections in 2007 and now in 2012 are again in the fray) candidates have been analyzed for the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly Elections 2012

·         The average assets of these candidates fielded by various parties in 2007 was Rs 1,42,81,124 (1.42 crore)

·         The average assets of the re-contesting candidates now in 2012 is Rs 4,24,16,673 (4.24 crore)

·         The average asset growth for these re-contesting candidates is Rs 3,79,93,432  (3.79 crore)

·         Average percentage growth in assets for these re-contesting candidates is 266%

·         The maximum growth in assets has been for Chavada Javaharbhai Pethalajibhai of INC from Manavadar with an increase of Rs 64.57 crore i.e. from Rs. 18.32 crores in 2007 to Rs. 82.90 crores in 2012. Assets of Parshottambhai Odhavjibhai Solanki (of BJP from Bhavnagar Rural) have increased by Rs 26.23 crore, from Rs 11.38 crore in 2007 to Rs 37.61 crore in 2012. Assets of Kamabhai Gagjibhai Rathod (of BJP from Sanand) have risen by Rs 22.90 crore, from Rs 1.55 crore in 2007 to Rs 24.46 crore in 2012.

·         The highest percentage increase (2860%) in assets has been declared by Vasava Chhotubhai Amarsinh of JD (U) from Jhagadia constituency. Chhotubhai Vasava’s  assets increased from Rs. 9.15 lakhs in 2007 to Rs 2.70 crore in 2012. Bhavnaben Raghavbhai Makwana of BJP from Mahuva constituency has declared an increase in assets of 2275%, his assets have risen from Rs. 3.67 lakh in 2007 to Rs 87.35 lakh in 2012. Kamabhai Gagjibhai Rathod of BJP from Sanand constituency falls at third position with 1469% increase in assets; his assets have grown from Rs 1.55 crores in 2007 to Rs 24.46 in 2012.

·         4 candidates have reported decrease in assets in 2012 as compared to value of assets in 2007. They are Mohanbhai Dahyabhai Patel (60% reduction in assets, from Rs 2 lakh in 2007 election to Rs 80 thousand in 2012) of JD(U) from Mahuva, Kirankumar Laxmanbhai Makwana (45% dip in assets, from Rs 21.54 lakh in 2007 to Rs 11.93 lakh in 2012) of INC from Jambusar, Mohanbhai Dhanjibhai Dhondia of BJP from Mahuva(ST) (27% fall in assets, from Rs 72.09 lakh in 2007 to Rs 52.61 lakh in 2012), Govindbhai Ukabhai Patel (22% decline in assets, Rs 1.48 crore in 2007 to Rs 1.16 crore in 2012 ) of BJP from Rajkot South.

Re-contesting MLAs

·         56 sitting MLAs who are again contesting elections (whom we call re-contesting MLAs) have been analyzed for first phase of the Gujarat Assembly Elections 2012

·         The average assets of these re-contesting MLAs in 2007 was Rs 1,61,72,245 (1.38 crore)  

·         The average assets of these MLAs who are contesting elections again now in 2012 is Rs 6,03,24,729   (6.03 crore)

·         The average growth in assets for these re-contesting MLAs is Rs 4,41,52,484   (Rs 4.41crore)

·         Average percentage growth in assets for these re-contesting MLAs is 273%

·         Javaharbhai Pethalabhaiji Chavada an INC MLA from Manavadar has declared the highest increase in assets of Rs 64.57 crore, his assets have grown from Rs. 18.32 crore in 2007 to Rs 82.90 crore in 2012. Assets of Parshottambhai Odhavjibhai Solanki (a BJP MLA from Bhavnagar Rural) have increased by Rs 26.23 crore, from Rs 11.38 crore in 2007 to Rs 37.61 crore in 2012. Assets of Kamabhai Gagjibhai Rathod (of BJP from Sanand) have risen by Rs 22.90 crore, from Rs 1.55 crores in 2007 to Rs 24.46 crore in 2012. Hirabhai Odhavjibhai Solanki (of BJP from Rajula) also has declared an increase of Rs 22.01 crore in assets, from Rs 12.79 crores to Rs 34.81 crore in 2012.

·         Chhotubhai Amarsing Vasava a JD (U) MLA from Jhagadia(ST) has declared the highest percentage increase in assets of 2860%, from Rs 9.15 lakh in 2007 to Rs 2.70 crore in 2012. Bhavnaben Raghavbhai Makwana a BJP MLA from Mahuva has shown a percentage increase in assets of 2275%, from Rs 3.67 lakh in 2007 to Rs 87.35 lakh in 2012. Kamabhai Gagjibhai Rathod a BJP MLA from Sanand has shown his assets go up by 1469%, from Rs 1.55 crores in 2007 to Rs 24.46 crores in 2012.

·         2 MLAs have reported a decrease in assets in 2012 as compared to their correponding value of assets in 2007. They are Kirankumar Laxmanbhai Makwana(45% reduction in assets, from Rs 21.54 lakh in 2007 elections to Rs 11.93 lakh in 2012) of INC from Jambusar, Govindbhai Ukabhai Patel(22% dip in assets, from Rs 1.48 Crore in 2007 to Rs 1.16 Crore in 2012) of BJP from Rajkot South.

For more details regarding the Conference, please contact: 

For Gujarat Election Watch

Prof. Jagdeep Chhokar
+91-99996-20944jchhokar@gmail.com

gew@adrindia.org

For National Election Watch/Association for Democratic Reforms:

Media and Journalist Helpline +91 80103 94248 Email: adr@adrindia.org

Mr. Anil Bairwal, National Coordinator National Election Watch, and Association for Democratic Reforms +91 80103 94248 +91 9999310100 adr@adrIndia.org, anil@adrIndia.org

Prof Trilochan Sastry IIM Bangalore Founder Member, National Election Watch, Association for Democratic Reforms +919448353285, trilochans@iimb.ernet.in

Mr. Ajit Ranade Founder Member, National Election Watch, Association for Democratic Reforms +91-97022-15312 ajit.ranade@gmail.com

Persistence of a Sore: Communal Violence Today

Ram Puniyani

Ram Puniyani

 

The events taking place in different parts of the country in October-November 2012 have been very disturbing to say the least. It is the continuance and recurrence of communal events, communal violence in different parts of the country, in UP, Assam and Hyderabad in particular. In UP since the Akhilesh Yadav Government has come to power there has taken place a series of acts of violence in UP. Since Samajwadi Party took over the reins of the state in March 2012, in the past few months’ communal violence took place in Mathura, Pratapgarh, Bareilly, Meerut, Allahabad and Lucknow. The latest in the series has been the tragic events of Faizabad, where On 24 October 2012, when the immersion procession of Durga was going on, a girl was molested by few miscreants. Making this as a pretext few people started stone throwing in the nearby areas. A rumor was spread in Faizabad that Muslims are doing the stone throwing. The mob went on to burn nearly 25 shops of Muslim traders. They also rampaged the office of bilingual (Urdu and Hindi) paper Aap Ki Takat. This paper is continuously giving the message of Peace and calling for Hindu-Muslim unity. They also vandalized the mosque.

According to activist Yugal Kishore Sharan Shastri, this was a pre-planned attack. The editor of the paper Manzar Mehdi feels, this is an attempt to silence the voice of peace. The police took long time to reach the spot and did not intervene effectively. Similarly the fire brigade also took four hours to reach, by which time the shops were totally destroyed.

Assam Riot

In the far off Assam, the recurrence of violence resulted in the death of six people, and it seemed whether there is going to be recurrence of the tragic incidents of July 2012, when nearly four lakh, mainly Muslims, were displaced and sixty people died. Assam violence was a bit different than others as here the number of displaced were much more and it seemed that there is a plan to get the Bodo areas cleared from the presence of the Muslims. Here one also saw that in the process of rehabilitation the Government is having a lopsided approach and Muslims are not being rehabilitated as many of them do not fuilfil the criterion of proper records due to various reasons. This was one case of violence where apart from police playing its role of a mere onlooker, the propaganda, based on misconceptions was made the base of violence. It has been propagated that Muslims are infiltrators, Bangldeshis and have been encroaching the lands of Bodos. Lot has been written to dispel this myth. Muslims have mainly been coming from Bengal from 18^th Century due to the British policy of reducing the pressure on overpopulated Bengal and to ensure that the stretches of Assam, having low population density are populated. Since the perceptions have made a deep root in social common sense, the violence against Muslims, the citizens of Assam-India have gone on and communal forces have taken full advantage of that.

(Construction on a temple adjoining the protected monument has sparked off trouble in the city).

The third incidence is from the Southern state of Andhra, where the historic monument of Charminar is being vandalized by putting up renovation of Bhagyalaxmi temple, which is abutting the Charminar. This violates the norms of Archaeological Survey of India. The plea of ASI that the changes in temple may damage the Minar and that this an illegal act is falling on the deaf years and government has been letting the act of desecration of Charminar going on, much to the annoyance of the people of old city of Hyderabad and historic Charminar area. There have been minor skirmishes due to which many a people have been injured and the area saw the curfew for some time.

These three incidents are very typical of as to what goes on to make a communal violence. There is preplanning in these acts, as is clear in all these cases. The pretext and rumours about violation of the modesty of women, is very much visible in the case of Faizabad. In case of Faizabad, apart from intimidating the minorities, burning their shops, the ransacking of the office of bilingual paper, Aap Ki Taqat is very symbolic. This paper is bilingual, Urdu and Hindi. Its belief is that Hindu Muslims are brothers and Hindi-Urdu are sisters. It has been talking of peace in Ayodhay and is opposed the communal politics which led to Babri demolition. In UP while the Samajvadi party (SP) is very much in the total control of situation, how come violence is taking place? SP has been always claiming to be secular and in past many a times it has come forward to protect the values of secularism. There seem to be deeper forces which are beyond the control of SP, or does SP sees a political benefit in letting violence happen remains to be seen. It is painfully obvious in case of UP, Faizabad also that police machinery is not interested in controlling the violence, even when it can. It either helps the rioters or looks the other way round when the violence is taking place. In Hyderabad one sees the use of historical places to incite the communal tension. How systematically communal forces built up the Ram Temple campaign leading to demolition of Babri Masjid is a sad reminder to what can happen in Hyderabad. In Ayodhya also Babri Masjid was a monument under control of ASI, but with political hysteria built around it, it was demolished in the broad day light with state, police very much in the know of things.

The multiple factors which lead to communal violence remain unaddressed so the recurrence of these acts of violence goes on in such a painful way. Social activists and scholars have pointed out the role of communal forces, state machinery, irrespective of who is in power; the role of rumours, the ‘social common sense’ targeted against minorities persists. It is very sure that unless the problem is dealt with in its totality the country will keep suffering the pain of this violence and minorities in particular will keep suffering. It also reminds us as to what is the state of our democracy and the need for an effective and balanced Communal Violence Bill? No democracy can be satisfactory unless the minorities are safe and secure and are having equity in economic matters. These incidents are reminders to all those having faith and longing for a peaceful, secular, democratic society that we need to work against those who operate on communal ground, we need to ensure that social misconceptions are removed and an atmosphere of amity is created and that pressures have to bring in Communal Violence prevention Bill to punish the acts of commission or omission by political authorities and the police forces..

The content of the article solely rests its author.

 Contact author email: puniyani08@gmail.com

Photo: Charminar:Courtesy:Indiatoday