Decriminalization of Politics in India- Sonia’s Call

It was heartening to listen to Sonia Gandhi, Congress President and UPA Chairperson,
when she called on all political parties to evolve a consensus to decriminalize politics and
eliminate the influence of money and muscle power. She was addressing the diamond
jubilee celebrations of election commission of India attended by all the political parties.
Sushma Swaraj of BJP supported the idea. Understandably, not many parties have reacted
to this proposal. The Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh expressed concerns about
lack of interest amongst educated middle class who are indifferent to the process of
elections or joining politics.

Both these issues are interlinked. In fact it is only due to the influence of money &
muscle power that the educated middle class does not come forward to contest elections
or even cast votes. Also the criminalization is so much deep rooted in Indian polity that a
sensible person would rather not cast his vote than choose amongst bunch of criminals to
vote for least acceptable goonda. A goonda of yesterday is whitewashed through judicial
process and presented again as if public memory is short. All the political parties are
responsible for such a state of affairs which has been degenerating for last 60 years every
day.

So who bells the cat? Or why not set the cat amongst the pigeons? All parties by now
would have conveniently, and by silent consensus, forgotten what was said in the speech
of Sonia Gandhi. Nobody would say, “Yes, let us do it”. So, is it only for the sake of
sounding right that the speech was written and read out? Or is the Congress party
committed to make it happen? Is it on their agenda? Is any one ready to “walk the talk”?

Congress and BJP (in its old avatar) have been oldest of the political parties and have the
political weight to change the system in the country. Except the communists, all other
parties are born out of their lineage. So if Congress or BJP decide to own the above
agenda others will fall in line helplessly. Congress has given the call and if Sonia Gandhi
can walk the talk, she will have carved out a place for herself in the history of modern
India of 21st Century and created profound impact on the nation’s future.

Indian polity has been reflecting an inclusive democracy. Inclusive of the criminals,
corrupt leaders, self serving politicians, corrupt ex-bureaucrats, uneducated politicians,
and wives & children of all these lots if they can not find a place for themselves. But as
the Prime Minister expressed, to rephrase it but not twist, it is exclusive of the educated
middle class which is fed up and defeated by all these lots.

My guess is that any political party which “walks the talk” on the lines stated by Sonia
Gandhi, will benefit immensely by garnering the votes of this alienated middle class
which is huge vote bank comprising all the castes and religions. Is it necessary for
Congress to wait for a consensus? Did the Punjab & Haryana High Court judge K.
Kannan wait for the consensus to evolve amongst the members of the judiciary or for
diktat of the Supreme Court to declare his assets? No, he had the conviction and so he
went ahead challenging the whole established system around him forcing all to fall in line
within a week. Even Supreme Court found it difficult to keep CJI out of it. So here is the
lesson for the political parties.

Even any other large political party, like BJP or even communists, can steal the thunder
under Sonia and declare their intentions not to give tickets to these undesirable elements
in any elections from gram panchayats to parliament. They would be on the moral high
ground. Others would meekly follow the leader setting a revolutionary change in Indian
democratic system.

Another issue raised by Sonia Gandhi is about money power in politics. While it is
wishful thinking that money power can be eliminated, the least can be done is to enhance
the limits of expenditure to practical levels and transparency on declaration of assets by
candidates. The system needs to be refined with follow up action on defaulters. Unless
we are serious about tackling corruption, the talk of reducing role of money power would
be mere waste of time. The stakes of business through political positions are so high that
any limits or restrictions are likely to be thrown to winds. Our laws are made with
provisions for escape routes even if the enforcement is strict. Any follow up actions also
could be stretched to a decade in absence of fast track mechanism to deal with corruption
in high places.

If political reforms are on anybody’s plate, some food for thought may be inviting
enough. Present cabinet of UPA government is full of members of Rajya Sabha. Rajya
Sabha should be reserved for non-political achievers with good records from different
walks of life. Also it is supposed to be the house of “elders” or “wise” people. It is simply
ridiculous to have young members of politicians’ families in mid thirties, with no or little
experience of public life or governance, being nominated to Rajya Sabha, or for that
matter a sportsman being nominated after retiring from the field in mid thirties. How
about having 60 years as an age limit for retirement from Lok Sabha and also as
minimum age for entry into Rajya Sabha? That way we will have wiser Rajya Sabha and
more vibrant Lok Sabha. Asking for impossible?

However, since Sonia Gandhi meant what she said, Congress would do well to be the
early bird to walk the talk and write a new chapter without waiting for consensus. But to
me, a member of the defeated middle class, this all sounds like mere rhetoric and empty
talk. Of course, unless some one pick up the gauntlet that is!

Vijay M. Deshpande
Corporate Advisor,
Strategic Management Initiative,
Pune

January 29, 2010

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