New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today (Aug 15, 2004) said it was for political parties to work with "more sincerity and commitment" to ensure that persons with criminal background are kept away from contesting elections.

"Political parties have to work with more sincerity and more commitment because such candidates should not be put up. Instead of imposing something from the top, we must have this commitment to minimum democratic principles," he told NDTV 24X7 in the "Walk the Talk" programme.

Elaborating, he said cases were there and "it is for individuals to exonerate themselves. But, you knowingly put up candidates who are in jail and then the question comes what to do."

He said the greatest strength of Parliamentary democracy was "people's participation and people's faith in the system. If they lose faith in the system, then what is the alternative dictatorship."

To a question that there were ministers who have criminal cases against them and what was his view on this, he said, "The question is if ultimately any of these gentlemen are acquitted, what happens to you. Supposing he is kept for ten years out of any political position and after ten years, who will give him back his ten years."

Asked whether he would take action against members who storm the well of the House, he said, "Some powers are there. There is a provision that all parties and all leaders agreed that those who come into the well would be automatically suspended. But, no Speaker has done it and I hope it is not necessary to use it. I have issued warning to one or two members."