Criminals as lawmakers: Opposition objects to special courts law

New Delhi : Soon after the ongoing Parliament winter session resumed on Tuesday, Congress leaders in Rajya Sabha opposed the Centre's plan to set up 12 special courts to try pending criminal cases against MPs and MLAs.

Addressing the Upper House, Congress MP Anand Sharma said if the perception was created that special courts were needed only for MPs, other people should not have to bear the brunt of it. He added it had an inherent potential to be abused in entirety by the government of the day.

Sharma further asked the government to ensure adequate funds for setting up special courts to try criminal cases against politicians.

"The government should ensure allocation of adequate funds for setting up enough number of courts so that people do not remain in prison for long periods and the trial is done," he added.

Responding to the debate, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the law should be for everyone and legislators alone should not be singled out.

"The law should be for everybody and legislators alone should not be singled out," he said.

In reply, Leader of the House and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "Everybody must get speedy trials."

He asked if the people had vested interests in delaying trials of politicians.

Joining the debate, Samajwadi Party MP Naresh Agarwal asked Jaitley if the NDA government would create special trial courts to try those who defaulted on Rs 8 lakh crore.

On Monday, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned as Congress leaders protested in both the Houses demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over allegations he made against his predecessor Manmohan Singh during the campaign trail in Gujarat.

The winter session of Parliament began on December 15 and will conclude on January 5 next year.