Redefining Corruption
An expensive election campaign will definitely escalate corruption at the highest level

Seram Neken *

Election result scene across Imphal on eve of election result day on March 06 2012 :: Pix -Victo Singh

Eradication of corruption remains rhetoric among today's politicians who spend huge sums in their election campaigns. In spite of making promises for a corruption free society, most politicians and political parties resort to distributing cash, hosting parties and feasts during election campaigns. Private companies are supporting the High profile politicians including Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi with funds, choppers and private jets to be used in election campaigns. With such type of elections, how can we dream of a corruption free society?

To many politicians, election has become a big investment through which they can freely loot the public exchequer. That is why; almost all political parties and politicians dare to spend as much money as possible in election campaigns. In such a system of polity, common people are always the victims. Corruption during elections is the root cause of all other corruptions involving powerful people.

Corruption undermines all the basic principles of democracy, good governance and creates social chaos. During the last General Election in 2012 in Manipur, there were hectic competitions among political parties in distributing cash to the voters. This practice devalues the winning candidates and people no longer have faith in them.

Nowadays, Indian politicians glamorize election by way of organizing huge rallies and meetings in order to mould their image. It is as if the Indian voters are the worst fools that hefty crores of rupees were reportedly earmarked for image building of Rahul Gandhi through reputed Companies. Similarly, the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is flying in the nook and corner to woo huge audiences.

Who are funding them? Will these minimize corruption in India? It is said at various circles that Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in India has Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi in his two pockets.

Indian polity today has been obsessed with Hero Worshipping and Dynastic politics, thereby defying people's needs and grievances. While the Congress party has been nurturing dynastic leadership of Gandhi family, the BJP has tinted towards becoming a one-man party through the oration and Charisma of Narendra Modi.

Most politicians have almost become sub-standards, when they use derogatory languages and hate speeches during campaigns only to polarize between the BJP-Modi and Congress-Rahul. They hardly speak on people-oriented policies and actions. Leaders have become more and more rhetoric, rather than action-oriented. During the last one decade or so, we have seen political leaders defying the democratic traditions in parliament and state assemblies.

In the name of "Loyalty to High Command", the Congress party under Gandhi dynasty has become more and more dictatorial in times of appointments of top posts including Presidents, Prime Ministers, LS Speaker, Chief Ministers of states, RS Members etc. Experienced stalwarts of the party seem to compromise their excellence in favor of the High Command's decisions. Merit seems to be ignored in the interest of hereditary rule and family politics. Even in Manipur, sons of deceased political leaders have been pulled up to occupy important posts as a convention without considering their interests and suitability.

It is as if politics has room for a Die-in-Harness scheme. In reality, Politics is different from all other professions in the sense that only a few people deserve to be professional politicians. The quality of governance automatically deteriorates due to entry of a number of undeserving politicians. All over India, Congress party has become the worst asylum of criminals and charge sheeted leaders.

Dynastic and hereditary occupation of posts occur most in the Congress Party. Quality seems to be neglected in its mission to nurture and worship tender leaders.

The Congress led UPA has been infested with notorious scams during the last one decade. Crores and crores of public money were involved in various scams involving ministers and bureaucrats during Congress rule. Besides the Bofors Scandal of the 1980s, we have heard of the 2G Spectrum Scam, Commonwealth Games Scam, Abdul Karim Telgi Scam, Fodder Scam, Hawala case, Coalgate scandal, so on and so forth. Still the Congress and the BJP are giving asylum to a number of tainted politicians, by allowing their candidature in elections on the basis of win-ability and vote bank politics.

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and RSS have long been known as the Hindu Fundamentalists, with its involvement in the demolition of Babri Masjid. During the Gujarat Riot under Narendra Modi's Chief Ministership, a number of people were killed in 2002. Back to Manipur, on 18 June 2001, the Manipur Assembly was burnt down and 18 people killed during the BJP regime.

The present head of BJP Manipur has been on various political parties, as he has changed affiliations supposedly for reaping opportunities. BJP was instrumental in throwing out Kejriwal from Delhi Chief Ministership as BJP and Congress blocked the Lokpal Bill that was going to punish leaders like Sheila Dixit. It is obvious that Sheila Dixit was appointed Governor to provide her immunity from corruption charges.

Indian voters have been again and again disillusioned by the elections, because many of the candidates are investing money and power to gain money and power. Drug Traffickers and criminals have filled the political platform. How can the law-breakers become law-makers? Regarding the present Congress leadership in Manipur, numerous scams including the Loktak Phumdi Clearance scam involving crores of rupees have been swept under carpet for obvious reasons.

Between 1992 and 2010, at least 5665 people were killed in insurgency related incidents in Manipur under AFSPA 1958. Drugs worth Crores of rupees were seized a number of times in Manipur, but not a single owner was arrested. Only the petty courier service providers were arrested and drilled. Any body on the street can easily quote the price of SIs, ASIs, Constables, Clerks, Nurses, Grade-IVs in the present Congress regime. Why almost all Ministers and MLAs of Manipur have become contractors and owners of huge assets? Are these not Corruption, which every politician swears to abolish?

The state government is interested more in developing infrastructure rather than in taking up long-term employment generation schemes for the people. Is it because of the fact that infrastructure development gives quick money to the leaders? It has long been lethargic in taking up the core issues for bringing unity, prosperity and communal harmony in the State. Election is the right time to throw out the corrupt politicians and parties out of politics. It is right time for the voters of Manipur to sweep off corruption, which are deep rooted and hampering the growth of the society.