K.V. Prasad
NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday suggested the framing of fresh norms and rules to check the recent trend of a nexus between politics and big businesses that came to the fore during the recent crisis in the BJP government in Karnataka.
Referring to the focus on the continuation of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said the events in Karnataka showed the nexus between politics and big business that the BJP had forged in the State.
“This was taken to a new dimension with the BJP incorporating the Bellary mining syndicate run by the Reddy brothers into the government. After riding on the shoulders of this most rapacious business combine and making them part of the government, the BJP is now faced with this lobby’s ambitions extended to dictating policies in the government and blackmailing the party,” Mr. Karat said in the latest edition of party organ People’s Democracy.
Describing the rise of the Reddy brothers as a “saga of crony capitalism and the close nexus established with politicians and pliant bureaucrats,” he said that at a time when the price of international iron ore rose from Rs. 200 to Rs. 2000 per tonne, the syndicate became major beneficiaries by bending laws, getting new regulations and enactments to favour them, and by blatant violation of forest and environmental laws.
The BJP’s mix of business and politics is part of the overall disease now spreading in the political system. Illegal money is accumulated by ruling class politicians through crony capitalism and public policy is hijacked for private interests, Mr. Karat said.
“The symbiosis of capitalists and politicians has reached a new level under neo-liberalism, and the direct impact of the politician-business nexus is now affecting the political system as never before,” he added.
“The invasion of business into politics has resulted in an unprecedented use of money in elections, and the symptom of rot is manifested in all sectors of life. Increasingly in legislatures and parliament, representatives are being elected from big businesses, liaison men and contractors. Business tycoons sit in parliamentary committees that decide on policies. There are Ministers in the Union Cabinet and State Cabinet who are actual businessmen by profession,” Mr. Karat alleged.
“Politics as business and business through politics is becoming the norm. This assault on democracy needs to be checked. Money power cannot be allowed to subvert the democratic system. If this merger of private interests and public policy making continues, it will spell the perversion of politics and democracy. All democratic forces and concerned citizens should act to halt this process. There have to be fresh norms and rules to be enforced,” he said.
It is surprising that Karat should be raising this point when it is facing complete wipeout in a number of states.
After taking the help of Todis, Nevatias, Goenkas and a whole lot of Marwari industrialist in Bengal he talks of the nexus between businessmen and politicians.
And why the need to look fresh at the rules? Aren't the present rules sufficient if implemented properly.
More then 60 % of the people who have won in the last elections are crore patis.
When any person becomes and MLA or MP, he may not be a croepati, but by the time he finishes his term he will be a crorepati many times over.
The expenses incurred for fighting elections have become so prohibitive that no honest person can afford to stand for elections. This was borne out by S M Krishna and Shashi Tharoor, who preferred to stay in 5-star hotel comfort rather than move to government sanctioned bunglows as they were uncomfortable there.
Now that person has spent may be 10 crores to fight the elections so that he can serve the people so it is only natural he should get a good return on his investment, say 100 crores, is the least.
And why talk only of the nexus between big business and politicians.
What about the nexus between politicians and criminals or criminals who have now become politicians.
Many times commissions have been set up to enquire into the nexus between these but all these were scuttled as politicians were the interested parties.
The National Election Watchdog has given statistics of the MLAs and MPs who have criminal cases against them.
What is Karat doing regarding all those reports?
What is the President or Prime Minister or the Chief Justice of Supreme Court who have expressed their anguish, doing?
It was because those criminals were helping the CPM until yesterday.
It is only now, that they have shifted their allegiance to the Trinumul, is Karat worried.
I have said it earlier and am repeating it now, Swami Ramdeo is the only solution to wipe out these corrupt politicians.
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