Amend act to disqualify those convicted for sedition: H Raja

CHENNAI: BJP national secretary H. Raja has sought appropriate amendment to the Representation of the People Act to disqualify a candidate who is convicted for sedition.

Slamming MDMK chief Vaiko who was on Friday convicted in a sedition case of 2009, Raja said he was surprised to know that there was no provision under the Representation of the People Act to disqualify a person who has been convicted for sedition. "If this be the case, then necessary amendment should be made to the Act to disqualify a person convicted for sedition from contesting elections," Raja said.

Vaiko, nominated as Rajya Sabha candidate from Tamil Nadu for the biennial polls on July 18, by ally DMK, had filed his nomination papers, a day after he was sentenced to a year in jail for sedition by a Chennai court. Mr. Vaiko filed his nomination in the presence of DMK chief M.K. Stalin and his lawmakers T.R. Baalu, Dayanidhi Maran and Kanimozhi. The election to Rajya Sabha seats will be held on July 18, as the term of six members comes to an end on July 24.

Speaking to reporters in Chidambaram in the State on Sunday the BJP senior said "Vaiko has not been accused or criticised of being a traitor. The court has pronounced him as guilty." "Is he going to become Rajya Sabha MP? Shame," Raja tweeted.

Judge J. Shanthi held him guilty of the offence of sedition. Though Vaiko was present in the court, he did not plead for any leniency. Police had registered a case under section 124 (A) of IPC (sedition) against Vaiko for the speech he made while releasing his book "Naan Kutram Sattugiren,"(I am Making the Accusation) in 2009. He had delivered a seditious speech during the book launch here at a time when the Sri Lankan civil war was at its peak, and his speech was in support of the banned LTTE.