“Buying” a girl and raping her
Joining a mob in attacking a police station
Attempt to murder

Do we want to ELECT LAWMAKERS who will be LAWBREAKERS?

If common citizens like you and I were charged with any of these serious crimes, we would have been shamed by our own families, faced social boycott and possibly even lost our jobs. However, politicians accused of such crimes are contesting elections (and worst still getting elected) in Goa. How can we expect better law and order in Goa when elected representatives are guilty of breaking the law themselves? Sign my petition.

As a resident of Goa, I am appalled that my options on voting day will be to choose the lesser evil. It’s a sad day for democracy if these are our options. I refuse to settle. I want clean elections. Join me.

Data released by the Association for Democratic Reforms shows that in the current assembly out of 40 MLAs, 11 have a criminal background. Of these, 9 are involved in serious cases including crimes against women and children, amongst other rape, abduction, sexual assault, attack on police station, attempt to murder, corruption etc. The tainted MLAs are from all parties - BJP, Congress, Goa Forward Party, Nationalist Congress Party and others - and are named below:

1. Atanasio Monserrate (BJP)
2. Jennifer Monserrate (BJP)
3. Vishwajit Rane (BJP)
4. Govind Gaude (Independent/BJP)
5. Nilkanth Halankar (INC/BJP)
6. Michael Lobo (BJP/INC)
7. Digambar Kamat (INC)
8. Churchill Alemao (NCP/TMC)
9. Vinod Paliencar (GFP/Independent)

Shockingly, all of the above 9 with serious criminal backgrounds are candidates in the upcoming Feb 14, 2022 Goa State Elections. The outcome of the soon-to-be-held elections will be no different if we as voters don’t make better-informed choices. Let’s take action.

The trouble is the average voter is not aware of the candidates' criminal backgrounds, even though the Election Commission, acting on the Supreme Court’s orders, has made it mandatory for parties to upload details of their criminal candidates' background on their website, social media and in newspapers within 48 hours of filing their nomination. 

Sign my petition asking the Election Commission to direct candidates accused of rape, murder, rioting and other serious offences to add the label “CRIMINAL RECORD” in big bold letters in all their publicity materials while campaigning. If candidates fail to do so, their nomination should be canceled.

Ideally, I would not want a single person with a criminal history to be allowed to contest or be elected. I am a law-abiding citizen and such candidates can never represent me. 

However, if through my petition, we can bring down the number of criminals in politics, I will be able to sleep better and breathe easier.

I am sure I am not the only Indian to feel this way. I urge everyone in Goa and across India to sign this petition and speak out without fear. When we speak in one voice, the Election Commission will hear us. Say No To Criminal Netas.