The forthcoming elections in Punjab, U.P., Uttarakhand, coming soon after the farcical debate on corruption in the context of Parliament’s fiasco on Lokpal Bill, some expected greater pressure on political parties to avoid selecting candidates against whom there was a suspicion of criminal background and lack of integrity and honesty in public life.
But alas not only is this consideration totally absent, but on the contrary, the justification for selecting such tainted candidates is being un-embarrassingly emphasised by parties. While B.J.P. not being in a position to defend induction of Kushwaha, Ex B.S.P. Minister of U.P, against whom charges of corruption have been levelled, it was sought to be justified by saying that he was from a very backward caste without realising that this was no defence rather an abuse [of argument] as it suggested that criminality was the usual trait of this caste. Cynically, a similar explanation was given by Mohan Singh, former spokesperson of Mulayam’s party, for having sponsored the case of D.P. Yadav, with proved criminal background, by seeking to justify by saying that on his being history-sheeter enlarges his capacity to get votes, and that though such leaders get caught, their communities rally behind them more strongly.
It is unfortunate that these small leaders of the caste instead of using caste as a tool for social change in a radical manner to remedy the denial and injustice done to them, (as advocated strongly by Dr. Ram Monohar Lohia, the Socialist Party leader), are using it perversely for their own small selfish gains, unmindful of the damage they are doing to the revolutionary fight necessary for eradication of this evil of casteism. No, I am not against the affirmative action for giving their dues to the Dalits and these deprived castes; rather more because one has to atone for injustices and deprivation imposed on them in the past. As Dr. Lohia explained, “Nepotism, jobbery, opportunism, flattery, non-adherence to truth and a tendency to twist doctrines to suit particular motives are some of the traits of Dvija leadership.
“These traits will remain with the Dvijas unless they make a conscious effort to bridge the gulf between themselves and the Dalits. The Dalit too has his shortcomings. He has an even narrower sectarian outlook. Once in office, the Dalit tries to perpetuate himself by having recourse to dirty sectarian methods.”
How prophetically this description applies to Mayawati method of building self-statutes and getting herself on her birthday weighed in lakhs of currency notes more in the image of a small chieftain during British Raj. Why does it not occur to her that her dismissal of about a dozen ministers charged with corruption and incompetence inevitably reflects on her leadership but also her collusion in all these deals – would people be wrong to say that either she is so incompetent that she did not know of their corruption, or the other alternative which is more credible that she was a fully knowing party to all these dealings and is now purporting to keep a distance as an election strategy.
It is true that we in India are too liberal in finding excuses for the misdeeds of respective caste leaders. We need to break this iron ring of caste. In this context all political parties need to do self introspection and give heed to the warning given by Dr. Ambedkar thus, “The second thing we must do is to observe the caution which John Stuart Mill has given to all who are interested in the maintenance of democracy, namely, not ‘to lay their liberties at feet of even a great man, or to trust him with powers which enable him to subvert their institutions’. There is nothing wrong in being grateful to great men who have rendered lifelong services to the country. But there are limits to gratefulness. As has been well said by the Irish patriot, Daniel O’ Connell, no man can be grateful at the cost of his honour, no woman can be grateful at the cost of her chastity and no nation can be grateful at the cost of its liberty. This caution is far more necessary in the case of India than in the case any other country. For, in India, Bhakti or what may be called the path of devotion or hero-worship, plays a part in its politics unlike any other country in the world, Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul. But, in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship.”
Parties still continue to ignore the warning of criminal elements in our legislatures given by Vice President of India at All India Whips Conference, “Exactly 23% of MPs elected in 2004 had criminal cases registered against them – over half of these cases could lead to imprisonment of five years or more. The situation is worse in the case of MLAs”.
Notwithstanding this the present partial list announced by various parties shows an agreement between them that criminal background of the candidate is considered a plus point. As per record of 2007, of present candidates fielded by B.J.P., 28% of them are with criminal background out of which 14% with serious criminal cases. Similarly, the Congress shows at 35%, with serious criminal cases at 17%; Mulayam’s party S.P. shares the same ignominy at 24% of candidates with criminal background and at 12% of serious criminal cases. BSP has not yet announced its candidates, but there is no reason to believe that it will lag behind others at all.
Irrespective of the results of U.P. elections one may regretfully accept that the population of U.P. is going to remain a victim of evil of criminalisation, corruption-ridden government. A sad day for Indian Democracy – but for a more vigilant public outrage things will not improve in near future.
Let the bureaucracy feel smug satisfaction at the dirty face of political class, it may be well advised to critically self-examine the reported news that higher bureaucracy in finance ministry are so concerned with improving the plight of the poor in the next budget that they have sacrificed their weekend to study this problem at a five-star retreat, equipped with facilities of massaging, and share their work with entertainment from Bollywood stars and singers. If true (I have not seen any contradiction), I can only cry out in pain for my country with the Shakespearean refrain in Hamlet’s words, “there is something rotten in the state of Denmark” (substitute India).
[The writer is former Chief Justice, High Court of Delhi, and former Chairperson Prime Minister’s High Level Committee on Status of Muslims]