Ostracize corrupt politicians: Soli Sorabjee

Mangalore, Apr 29: Former Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee today called for enacting a law facilitating forfeiture of property and assets of persons found guilty by a court of law for corruption.

Delivering the foundation lecture on ''Challenges to Democracy - We Have Promises to Keep'' after receiving the justice K S Hegde Charitable Foundation Award, he said that more than enacting laws and strictly implementing it, the need of the hour was to create strong public opinion against corruption. ''Corrupt officials and politicians should be socially ostracised,'' he said.

Stating there was an urgent need for change in political morality and culture, he observed that the criminals and corrupt and undesirable elements were getting elected as citizens did not exercise their franchise properly during elections. ''An alert and active citizenry is essential to meet the challenges to democracy and ensure its successful functioning.

''Accountability needs to be enforced not only at the time of elections, but during the entire term of a Government. Otherwise democracy will become merely a ritualistic exercise in voting and not a continuous process of Government by the people,'' he added.

Mr Sorabjee said the greatest challenges to democracy, was the rise in fanaticism and intolerance which had assumed menacing proportion. ''It is a fatal blow to our democracy. Dissent had no voice today as intolerance had a chilling and inhibiting effect on freedom of thought and expression. It it our duty to promote tolerance in our multi-religious, multi-cultural nation and thereby strengthen and enrich our pluralist democracy.'' ''Even after 56 years, aims, goals and ideals of our Constitution have not been realised. The time has come when we must take positive action and adopt measures to effectively meet these challenges,'' he added.

Former Chief Justice of India and National Human Rights Commission Chairman A S Anand presented the award to Mr Sorabjee.

The award, instituted by the Foundation and NITTE Education Trust here, carried a citation and a cash award of Rs two lakh.

UNI