'Onus on us to not vote for criminals'

LUCKNOW: For most people Nilam Katara is the brave mother who fought for her brutally murdered son Nitish and finally got justice after 14 long and trying years. The Lucknow native wanted that no one else should have to go through what she suffered,which goaded her to continue her battle against the powerful people she was up against. However, she also feels that it was about time that the public took onus for not voting for politicians with criminal background as it might tip the scales of law in their favour.
Katara was speaking at the session 'Ye Public Hai Boss' on the Day 2 of the Lucknow Literature Festival 2018, which was also attended by noted lawyer Jaideep Narain Mathur and DG of Bureau of Police Research AP Maheshwari on Saturday. The 66-year-old government servant, said, "It's about time that the public took responsibility. If you let people accused of dastardly, heinous crimes make laws for us in Parliament and in assemblies and then abide by them, then these laws will also be skewed in favour of those criminals. That's what is happening today."
Katara's son Nitish was murdered by Vikas, son of gangster and former MP DP Yadav, in February, 2002. Nitish was allegedly in a relationship with Vikas Yadav's sister Bharti, which the former did not approve of. Vikas and two others were convicted of the crime in 2017.
The panelists also talked about how the Katara murder case was an example of criminalisation of politics. "There is a systemic rot in the system which often leads to delay in the delivery of justice. This is because the way law tries to ensure an innocent person isn't punished by giving the accused a benefit of doubt. However, it doesn't extend the same benefit of doubt to the defendant or the informant," said Mathur.