Political parties and corruption
It is disturbing that ruling party spokespersons, clearly shaken by the spate of scams as well as the popular upsurge of support for Team Anna, has resorted to counter-accusations. Based on an old enquiry commission report they accuse Anna of being ‘steeped in corruption from head to toe’, for what can at worst be considered procedural irregularities. The opposition is gloating at the Centre’s discomfiture, but they would behave in the same way, if they were in the line of fire.
So lets ask our parties some common questions. Can all political parties’ spokespersons please answer these, please?
- Will their parties publish their audited accounts for the last five years on their websites?
- Can they give details of all the political contributions they have received over the last five years and also tell us, how much has been through cheques?
Can they certify:
- That their political observers, posted to different states to settle organisational matters, do not collect bribes in cash or kind, for assigning tickets to fight MLA and MP elections?
- That they do not bribe voters?
- That they do not bribe MLAs and MPs to switch sides?
- That their representatives do not take bribes from corporates?
Our political system is unimaginably and comprehensively corrupt. It will take a long time to cleanse it. When they accuse protestors of corruption, they walk on very thin ice!
Some political worthies would have us believe that once we elect our MPs then we ought not to say anything that affects the ‘decorum’ of parliament. Of course, the decorum that parliamentarians themselves maintain in the house, if for all of us to see. Democracy, is not about elections alone. It means a vibrant civil society. It means the freedom of speech , of assembly and indeed of all the fundamental rights enshrined in our constitution.
It includes the right to ask questions of our elected representatives, not once in five years when they come asking for votes, but on a daily basis. We have not elected our representatives so that they can dictate terms to us for five years. We have the right to ask, and they the duty to answer us on a daily basis, if required.
It would do well, if read what Mahatma Gandhi wrote, instead of defiling his name every time they use it.