Political Diary

New Delhi, 20 March, 2010

Daulat Ke Beti

MAYA ‘MARSHALS’ OUT RIVALS

By Poonam I Kaushish

Phew! It has been a real busy week. Keeping track of the teekha-teekha tamashas of the poweratti. Four tales which showcase the grotesque private face of our netas, winning hands down over their public mask. From a dalit ke beti Cinderella-like turning into a daulat ki beti by  ‘cashing’ in on her fans  devotion, down disruptive netgan being ‘marshalled’ out thrice over and an absconding Right Honourable after setting his lover on fire.  Horrendous incidents that spell political disaster. No matter darlings, it has everything to do with the power of politics and the politics of power!

Take UP Chief Minister Mayawati who rewrote the grammar of ‘cow belt’politics and corrupt rules. When she was garlanded with Rs 1000 notes totaling Rs 5-25 crores in massive celebrations organized to celebrate 25 years of the Bahujan Samaj Party and birth anniversary of Kanshi Ram in Lucknow on 15 March. More. Cocking a snook at the growing political outrage she did an encore in Lucknow two days later with an Rs 18 lakh garland. Heralding that money garlands would be the order of the day henceforth. What to speak of her statues.

Let the Congress, BJP and the other parties’ hell blue murder about Maya memsaab is accustomed to courting controversy on the scale of "donations" by party supporters. A CBI disproportionate assets case accusing her of amassing 72 immovable properties and more than 50 bank accounts with 21 crore is pending in court. Daring her detractors to criticize her, she revels in the knowledge that by doing do they are exposing their hypocrisy and prejudice. Given that most netas prefer to cast a veil of secrecy on their finances and assets, ‘uninhibited’ Mayawati showcases her radical indifference to etiquette of “accountable” politics.

In one sense she is not wrong. Aren’t we accustomed to a corrupt and unaccountable polity who could stoop to anything for paisa and gaddi. Wherein scams no longer shocks, leave alone worry anyone. See how the Congress basks in BSP’s 21-MP support at the Centre yet condemns the crass display of money-power by the Dalit ki beti turned daulat ki beti.” But when push comes to shove is not willing to reject the BSP’s support. As for the BJP it has played footsie with ‘corrupt’ Maya in the past and could do so again, courtesy a bout of amnesia. The other Made in India leaders Samajwadi’s Mulayam and RJD’s Lalu too are entangled in a web of corruption.

Now the “marshalling’ disease which affected Parliament’s Rajya Sabha and the Assemblies of J&K and Rajasthan. In the first, 7 MPs had to be marshalled out by 100-odd marshals (some say CRPF in mufti) and suspended when they went overboard with their protest on the Women's Reservation Bill on 9 March. While some climbed on to the dais in front of Chairman and Vice-President Ansari's table and tried to snatch his pen, others tore up papers and attempted to wrench the microphone in front of him. While suspension of four was revoked post apology, the remaining three continue to remain adamant.

What Parliament can do, the Assemblies can do better. Amid high drama, two kicking and screaming Opposition MLAs were marshalled out of the J&K Assembly after they insisted on raising an issue in defiance of the Speaker during Question Hour. Two days later, ditto the case in the Rajasthan Assembly when BJP legislators grappled with scores of marshals trying to evict two suspended colleagues from the House. In the ensuing melee, four BJP were injured.

What troubles one is the new dimension to this age-old malaise. That it does not strike any chord among our Right Honourables. There is no sense of outrage or shame. Instead all collectively have come out against the use of ‘marshals’ force to tame recalcitrant leaders. Why? Aren’t our netagan supposed to atone and account for their acts of misdeeds? Are they above discipline and civilized behavior? Above the law? Think. If the aam aadmi breaks any rules he is fined, a scooterist challaned for jumping a red traffic light, students rusticated for sitting in dharna et al. So what is so sacrosanct about our MPs and MLAs?

Simply because they rule by law. Happy to continue to be a law unto themselves. No matter that democracy and Parliamentary etiquette demand that “Parliamentary customs, convention and etiquette" be observed. Namely, Members should not shout slogans, sit on dharna in the pit of the House, rulings given by the Chair should not be criticised directly or indirectly inside or outside the House. Members should not leave when the Speaker is addressing the House, bring arms to the House, shouldn't distribute any pamphlets or literature not connected with the business of the House et al.

Alas, the obverse holds true. Our jan sevaks have become accustomed to strong-arm tactics to force adjournments of the legislatures. And indulgent Speakers have traditionally ruled with a light touch, avoiding the use of suspensions and not calling in marshals. On the premise that every legislator should have his say, no matter that debate has descended to farcical slogan shouting.

Tragically, the downslide has been rapid. With every passing year and election, the barometer of quality of leaders is steadily deteriorating wherein their antics no longer shocks or causes mass protests. It is slowly becoming an accepted norm, part of one’s routine. Curse all, but when push comes to shove the majority willingly lumps it. Shrugged off as a price one has to pay for democracy. The polity washes its hands off by calling it a “systemic failure.” Are they kidding? In plain English this translates into a fig leaf to cover their shocking incompetence and scandalous failure. Just see the deafening silence over the brutal murder of a woman in MLA in UP’s Maharajganj district by a Samajwadi MLA. Who has now absconded to Nepal.

Has all this stirred our netagan’s conscience? Tragically, “no”. So cleverly have they perfected the art of self-deception that unaccountability, ineptitude and inefficiency have reached new heights of a well-scripted political nautanki.  Of issues which have been reduced to one-day cricketing wonders.

But the moot point is: Will profligacy be allowed to become the bedrock of our Parliamentary democracy? Basically, is it good for our democracy to have corrupt and unruly jan sevaks   represent the voters? When those who are supposed to lead become saboteurs, it is time to call a spade a spade. Above all, we need politicians who are men of conscience, integrity and credibility.

Importantly, India is today at the moral crossroads. More so, in our present all pervasive decadence interspersed with growing public distaste, cynicism and despair. Time to give serious thought to changing the qualifications and norms for those contesting Parliamentary and State Assembly seats.

Hopefully, these incidents will mark a turning point in our rajnitik  history. That monstrous money power and rebellious behavior are no longer welcome. And a warning that use of ‘marshals’ could become the order of the day. Let us face the moment of truth and reckoning. Say goodbye to the politics of  sabse bada rupaiya. ----- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)