Nexus between politicians and criminals
Nexus between politicians and criminals
Indian polity is in a sorry plight. Politics has become synonymous with unethical practices. Today no party is free from the influence of criminals. Though there were never any doubts that such a nexus existed, the findings of Vohra committee have highlighted this nexus. It is not surprising that the Vohra committee report was not released by the govt, for about two years. And when it was released it was only in fragments.
The situation has grown so much out of control that the nexus between the criminals and the politicians is not limited only to making money or fighting elections. Now this nexus has crossed national border connections as well giving rise to cross border terrorism, Both Pakistan and America have been able to lure Indian Mafia. Through this connection they have been able to trap ministers and politicians to gain access to Indian security forces. The crime- politics nexus has become a national risk. However, in the wake of Bombay bomb blasts in 1993, people have rightly realised the risk that such a nexus poses to the nation. As a matter of fact it is unfortunate that democracy in India has been high-jacked by the criminal elements. The use of money and muscle power in elections is the order of the day.
Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom. On this account Indians have miserably failed. This kind of nexus is helpful to the politicians. But the things took ugly turn when they started demanding share in the exercise of political powers. Now the criminals have themselves become politicians. They take the place of pride beside their masters. This is the worst that could happen to Indian democracy. When the criminals become the leaders of the party, the ministers and the chief ministers, the whole society is affected down to a common man in the street. Government agencies investigating the crimes reveal that the criminals are law unto themselves. How unfortunate it is that the chief ministers charged and convicted of crimes and sent to jail run the govt, from the prisons because they instal their favourites as Chief Ministers. Legislatures of all the states, according to a conservative estimate, have anything between one third and one fourth of history sheeters as members.
It is tragic that almost all the political parties have collectively rejected the mandate of supreme court regarding the electoral reforms. In accordance with it a candidate for election is required to give the detail of the trials, convictions and financial status at the time of filing nomination papers. What a hypocrisy on the part of our custodians of democracy. In any democracy citizens always have the last laugh. Only those leaders should be voted to power as long as they are not tainted and mired in criminality. Indians must realise that it is now or never. In short criminalization of politics and politicization of crime has become all pervasive in Indian polity. Crime is rewarded & virtue is out of favour. Therefore, the voters should rise to the occasion and throw the criminal ele¬ments out of politics.