page 385

INDIAN POLITICS-CORRUPT FIGHTING CORRUPTION

Brigadier Arun Bajpai (Retd)



Operation ‘Duryodhan’ and Operation ‘Chkravuyh’, two back to back sting operations conducted by electronic media channels last year, showing eleven Members Of Parliament in the first, taking bribe for asking questions in the House and seven Members Of Parliament in second demanding cuts ranging from 5% to 45% from the two crore annual MP Local Area Development Grant which each MP gets for welfare of his constituency, speaks a lot to the levels politics in India in general and the politicians in particular have fallen. It is not for nothing that Transparency International in its Corruption Study 2005 has listed India as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. In their estimates Indian public pays Rs 21068 crores annually in corruption. Question is where do we go from here?

Biggest irony is that in last 60 years of Indian Independence, hardly any election has been fought where removal of corruption from Indian governance has not been one of the issues in every political parties election manifesto. Nevertheless the loot continues. With Netas indulging in this hobby in a big way the bureaucracy is not far behind. Their logic is that it is they who facilitate their bosses in cornering the moolah so why should they also not dip into it. No wonder each political party has their own favorites in bureaucracy

Article 105 of the Indian Constitution provides immunity to MPs from any legal action for any act done in discharge of their duties even if it is wrong. In the famous JMM bribery case of 1993, when it came to light that several MPs’ were bribed to save the Government in power, these MPs’took shelter under this Article to save their hide. In 2002 The Constitution Review Committee recommended this provision to be amended but our political leaders stood as one to negate this.

Every political party laments the criminalisation of politics in this country but when allotting tickets to the candidates in elections the criminals rule the roost. As per a recent survey more than 200 serving MPs and 700 state legislatures have criminal cases registered against them.

In the name of Secularism, all political parties are practicing castism and vote bank policies in the country. In eighties the Indian polity was just about showing signs of rising above the cast and religious considerations. Suddenly the politicians adept in divide and rule policy, brought in Mandalistion.This resulted in India regressing back to worst state of polarization on cast lines.

Indian Constitution had allowed reservations in the country only up to 1960 and it was expected of the politicians that by this time they would have provided sufficient facilities to the down trodden in education and other fields to enable them to come at par with others. Instead, to garner votes our politicians both in states and center have taken the reservation quota policy to ridiculous levels of almost 60% to 70% reservations in total disregard of Supreme Court ruling that reservations should not be in excess of 50%.

Some time back the Congress party led Andhra Pradesh Government had extended 5% reservation to Muslim community, well knowing that Indian Constitution debars any such reservation on religious grounds. Courts finally struck this down. Game being to draw the political mileage from this and paint courts as villain in peace in the mistaken belief that Indian voting public is so knave that they will not see through the facade. Recently the Government in Center has introduced a bill to have reservations in unaided private educational institutions but has exempted the minority private institutions, an apt example of double standards.

Having ruined the public sector now there is a talk by our Netas of forcing reservations in private sector also. To gain some votes our leaders are not bothered as to what damage this ill-advised policy will cause to Indian productivity and economy. Our reservation loving Netas become very chary when these reservations affect their own turf. Case in point is the Women’s Reservation Bill that plans to provide 33% reservation to Indian Women in Parliament and state assemblies. This bill has not seen the light of day despite it being there for almost twelve years. The male Netas do not want to give up seats in favor of females.Chivalery is dead here.

The only silver lining in otherwise a gloomy sky is the tremendous reach of the electronic media, the mobile phones and the power of SMS culture which is now rural friendly. Indian polity is much more aware today of its rights, is politically savvy and most important of all is young. India with 74 percent of its population below the age of 30 is the youngest country in the World. This youth, which will be voting in great numbers for the first time in 2009 elections, has already reached the literacy level of 62 percent. In addition they are energetic and are impatetant for progress. The, current status quo concept of Indian political class will not do. This youth wants to move ahead and take the lead. It will be increasingly difficult for Indian Netas to continue with their old ways. Sooner than later people in India will demand accountability from them.

It is time that Article 105 of the constitution is amended to allow the politicians to be dealt with legally for their any act of purposeful omission in discharge of their duties. They should be brought under the preview of Lok Pal Bill, which must be passed. Centarl Vigilance Commission Must be made autonomous like Election Commission with C.B.I. coming under it. This along with proactive media will be enough to bring in accountability in our politics.