COALITION AND CORRUPTION

Political corruption is the main cause for all the problems coming in the way of implementation of development schemes and reaching out the poor in their up-liftment, infrastructure development – social and physical, and various other reforms our country needs. Businessmen, bureaucrats, criminals and politicians are the major toxic hubs, in breeding corruption and generating black money. All the four are intertwined in a web in various permutation and combination at all levels in breeding day to day and institutional corruption. With the changing economy, matrix and dynamics of corruption has become complex and complicated. Now the corruption exists in various forms, dimensions and manifestations. It is not easier to track money trail especially in big ticket corruption and catch and punish the perpetrators. Politicians across all party lines are involved in some or the other way. Inspite all the public posturing and rhetoric by politicians in making
corruption free India no one wants strong laws to catch and punish them. 

As no party on its own is able to win majority of seats it becomes a necessity to enter into coalition with other parties and /or independents to garner the required numbers to form the govt. Coalition partners go for hard bargaining at the time of govt. formation. They want ministry of their choice allotted to their selected members from their party. The criteria in selection of the ministry of their choice is not because their candidate has more skills and expertise in running the ministry, but how much potential the ministry has in making money by promoting crony capitalists, and provide favors to its constituents. The ruling majority party has no control on the ministers appointed by coalition partners. These ministers owe their loyalty to their mentors and their leaders rather than the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister as the case may be. It suits coalition parties to use its ministers in generating funds for the party and for themselves.

Politically the responsibility of any debacle lies with the ruling party not with the coalition partner. Moreover they want to increase their strength in coming election rather than helping the ruling party in gaining political mileage at their cost. Thus a coalition party has all the authority but limited accountability. 

As ruling party’s survival depends on support of coalition partners it cannot afford to be tough and take action against them unless their deeds have gone out of proportion to force the govt. for action. In recent case of 2G scam, govt. was forced by the opposition, media and the courts for CBI enquiry and put the ministers involved and others behind bars. In the year 2009 and 2010 people had experienced unprecedented food inflation esp. in daily needed items. We were forced to buy onions at Rs.80 per Kg., sugar at 50 per kg., tur dal at Rs.90 per kg. and similar other items. Food and Agriculture Minister, leader of NCP was well aware in advance that such a scenario is under development but allowed the situation to go out of hand. He let the exports of these commodities and hoarding under Forward market and commodity trading continue. Ruling party though well aware of the debacle on the part of F&A Minister had no guts to question him or take corrective steps in public interest. In a recent train accident inspite PM asking MOS a TMC member to go to the site and help accident victims, he refused to abide by his request, instead proceeded to Kolkotta so as to be with its leader Mamta Banerjee. 

Money and muscle power plays a crucial role in winning elections at all levels from local bodies to parliament. Thirty percent (162 out of 543) of our MPs have criminal cases pending against them against 156 In2004. Number of crorepatis in the present Lok Sabha has increased from 128 to 315 from 2004 to 2009. Can we expect a strong lokpal bill from these MPs? Though Election Commission has been able to control bogus voting and check the menace of buying votes etc. to some extent yet it finds itself handicapped in checking other malpractices because of limited powers. Inspite election commission’s many appeals for election reforms no serious action been taken by the ruling party. Every body – politician, bureaucrat, corporate and others are well adjusted in the present system hence they are least interested in tempering with it, to such an extent as to hurt their interests. This is the breeding ground for generating toxic assets. 

Thanks to Shri Anna Hazare and his team who has placed corruption on national agenda and has risked his life by undertaking indefinite fast till strong lokpal bill is passed in the parliament. The type of support he has received all over India is commendable. Though parliament has conceded to include his three contentious points in the Lokpal bill in principle but has left the matter for the standing committee to finalize the bill for the consideration of the parliament. It is yet to be seen how soon a lokpal bill is passed if at all it is passed? And if passed, how strong and effective it will be in making India corruption free? My concerns are based on govt. actions involving twists and turns it has taken in agreeing to Anna’s demands in parliament. Many members have criticized the govt. in conceding lot of space to Anna team and the media in giving bad name to politicians. Moreover from the past events govt.’s creditability is under suspicion? How serious it is in changing the system and making probity in public life a priority, and how soon? Before breaking his 13 day old fast Annaji has called “Sense of the House” resolution passed by the parliament as half victory and announced his resolve to continue the struggle till the strong lokpal bill is passed.

I can understand the compulsions of the ruling party in passing a strong lokpal bill as being advocated by team Anna. By doing so many of his coalition partners and its own party members will come under scrutiny and it will be difficult for the govt. to defend them. In such a scenario govt. will not be able to survive. Hence they would not like to cut the hand that feeds them. 

Annaji’s crusade to make a corruption free India will be a long drawn battle, if those responsible for passing such bills and their implementation have no will to do so? Young middle class India has woken up in changing the face of our politicians and politics. They can succeed with mass support if they continue with strong public pressure as witnessed during Anna’s campaign. Let us hope for better times ahead. 

Long live Anna.

satyendra malik