Hypocrisy Series. Posting #2.
Our Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has declared (The Statesman:“India now a successful democracy: PM”; 20 Dec) that India is “a successful democracy”, “a rigorously functioning democracy” “committed to the rule of law”, while commending the historic role played by the freedom fighters during the struggle for independence.
While it is only true that our freedom struggle was unique – Gandhiji’s non-violence, the Sepoy Mutiny, Netaji’s armed attack to uproot the British rule in India, and sacrifice made by countless freedom fighters without any terrorism, was truly unique. But to say that India is a successful democracy and to say that there is rule of law in India is a travesty of truth.
The democracy in India is a sham democracy. Convicted criminals and murderers who have several charges against them in the court of law are allowed to contest elections, and are elected by dint of muscle power so as to become MLAs, MPs and Ministers.
The voters have no choice but to vote for someone he does not want to elect, because there is no system of recording “I consider none of the candidates worthy of my vote”.
People who don’t live in certain areas are allowed to contest from those constituencies by false declaration of residence. Manmohan Singh from Assam and Indira Gandhi from Chikmagalur are only two of such examples. Brinda Karat and Sitaram Yechuri were elected to Rajya Sabha from West Bengal!
The present members of Parliament are quite ignorant of parliamentary procedures, norms and culture, and only know how to stall the proceedings of the House, how to abuse each other and how to collect their pay and allowances. I am sure the Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha will bear me out in this respect. On the eve of the departure of the Indian Cricket team for the West Indies to take part in the World Cup, he advised the Indian Cricket team not to be as undisciplined as the Indian Parliament. What a certificate for the Indian Parliament from their Speaker.
That there is no rule of law in India is evident all around us. Criminals like Sahabuddin, Taslimuddin, Sibu Soren, Pappu Yadav, Lalu Yadav, Jayalalitha and umpteen number of such others adorn the holy precincts of the Parliament and Assemblies. Criminals who are either related to the ministers and the powerful or are film stars or otherwise famous are charged but not punished (being convicted and actually serving prison sentences are quite different). Terrorists are pardoned and even freed. The children of the rich (creamy layer) have seats reserved for them (by the way, how can the rich be called ‘backward’?). The Calcutta High Court bans rallies that block traffic; but the order is flouted. The Supreme Court bans ‘bandhs’, but ‘bandhs’ continue to be organized by the political parties with impunity. People accused in the court of law and declared absconders by the police roam about freely; one absconding for 12 years whom the police “could not find” actually was attending his office in the Writers’ Buildings, the seat of the government, because he was a Minister!! This is the ‘rule of law’ in India.
The government amends the Constitution and passes laws to suit their own personal purpose, for example, to save their membership of parliament though holding Offices of Profit or to increase the level of reservation in order to augment their vote-base, when nothing is really done to improve the lot of the deprived, the economically and educationally backward people -- no special schools exclusively for them, no training facilities specially for these needy people, no doles -- nothing. While our Constitution says that we are a secular state, our Prime Minister talks of special rights and privileges for Muslims.
One can get benefits to which one is not entitled when one has the right ‘contact’, foreigners get ration-cards in West Bengal, and become voters. Condominiums are built by promoters on government land and sold for residential purpose, and the government does nothing. Government allows the traders to unlawfully usurp residential areas in Delhi and establish trading centres; and when the Supreme Court intervenes, the government sides with the law-breakers and talks of ‘judicial activism’. This is the ‘rule of law’ in India.
MPs don’t vacate quarters after their term is over, Ministers use government vehicles for personal purpose, and even for campaigning for their party. One cannot get any job done in a government office unless palms are greased. The list is endless. This is indeed the ‘rule of law’ in India.
Mr. Prime Minister, as an ordinary citizen, may I say from what I see around me, from what I get from the newspapers and other media, both domestic and foreign, is that this is a land where the corrupt are nurtured, criminals are pampered, and the law-makers are the law-breakers. Sorry to differ, Sir, but there is no rule of law in India,
While it is only true that our freedom struggle was unique – Gandhiji’s non-violence, the Sepoy Mutiny, Netaji’s armed attack to uproot the British rule in India, and sacrifice made by countless freedom fighters without any terrorism, was truly unique. But to say that India is a successful democracy and to say that there is rule of law in India is a travesty of truth.
The democracy in India is a sham democracy. Convicted criminals and murderers who have several charges against them in the court of law are allowed to contest elections, and are elected by dint of muscle power so as to become MLAs, MPs and Ministers.
The voters have no choice but to vote for someone he does not want to elect, because there is no system of recording “I consider none of the candidates worthy of my vote”.
People who don’t live in certain areas are allowed to contest from those constituencies by false declaration of residence. Manmohan Singh from Assam and Indira Gandhi from Chikmagalur are only two of such examples. Brinda Karat and Sitaram Yechuri were elected to Rajya Sabha from West Bengal!
The present members of Parliament are quite ignorant of parliamentary procedures, norms and culture, and only know how to stall the proceedings of the House, how to abuse each other and how to collect their pay and allowances. I am sure the Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha will bear me out in this respect. On the eve of the departure of the Indian Cricket team for the West Indies to take part in the World Cup, he advised the Indian Cricket team not to be as undisciplined as the Indian Parliament. What a certificate for the Indian Parliament from their Speaker.
That there is no rule of law in India is evident all around us. Criminals like Sahabuddin, Taslimuddin, Sibu Soren, Pappu Yadav, Lalu Yadav, Jayalalitha and umpteen number of such others adorn the holy precincts of the Parliament and Assemblies. Criminals who are either related to the ministers and the powerful or are film stars or otherwise famous are charged but not punished (being convicted and actually serving prison sentences are quite different). Terrorists are pardoned and even freed. The children of the rich (creamy layer) have seats reserved for them (by the way, how can the rich be called ‘backward’?). The Calcutta High Court bans rallies that block traffic; but the order is flouted. The Supreme Court bans ‘bandhs’, but ‘bandhs’ continue to be organized by the political parties with impunity. People accused in the court of law and declared absconders by the police roam about freely; one absconding for 12 years whom the police “could not find” actually was attending his office in the Writers’ Buildings, the seat of the government, because he was a Minister!! This is the ‘rule of law’ in India.
The government amends the Constitution and passes laws to suit their own personal purpose, for example, to save their membership of parliament though holding Offices of Profit or to increase the level of reservation in order to augment their vote-base, when nothing is really done to improve the lot of the deprived, the economically and educationally backward people -- no special schools exclusively for them, no training facilities specially for these needy people, no doles -- nothing. While our Constitution says that we are a secular state, our Prime Minister talks of special rights and privileges for Muslims.
One can get benefits to which one is not entitled when one has the right ‘contact’, foreigners get ration-cards in West Bengal, and become voters. Condominiums are built by promoters on government land and sold for residential purpose, and the government does nothing. Government allows the traders to unlawfully usurp residential areas in Delhi and establish trading centres; and when the Supreme Court intervenes, the government sides with the law-breakers and talks of ‘judicial activism’. This is the ‘rule of law’ in India.
MPs don’t vacate quarters after their term is over, Ministers use government vehicles for personal purpose, and even for campaigning for their party. One cannot get any job done in a government office unless palms are greased. The list is endless. This is indeed the ‘rule of law’ in India.
Mr. Prime Minister, as an ordinary citizen, may I say from what I see around me, from what I get from the newspapers and other media, both domestic and foreign, is that this is a land where the corrupt are nurtured, criminals are pampered, and the law-makers are the law-breakers. Sorry to differ, Sir, but there is no rule of law in India,
posted by SENsible at 7:12 pm
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