Crime And Politics
Crime
and politics seems to more compatible than ever, partcularly in the
Indian context. Today, on the day that the Indian government meets its
hour of destiny as it seeks a trust vote on the nuclear deal, political
criminals or rather criminal politicians are at their zenith of
relevancy. With the pro and anti governments unable to muster a clear
majority, the Members of Parliament lodged in various jails across the
country are set to play decisive role in the trust vote later today.
Balia MP Surajbhan Singh of the Lok Janashakti party, Phulpur MP Ateeq
Ahmad of the Samajwadi Party, Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari of the Samajwadi
Party, Siwan MP Mohd. Shahabuddin from the Rashtriya Janata Dal,
Machchlishahar MP Umakanta Yadav of the Bahujan Samaj Party and
Independent Madhepura MP Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, were all
granted bail to attend the two day special session of parliament. All
jailed for heinous crimes including murder, extortion, intimidation,
land grabbing, etc., today their vote may decide the future of India.
There are several other Honorable Members of the Indian parliament who
have criminal charges against them, but the six named above are already
serving time and therefore in a special category.
Criminalization
of politics seems to have caught up in a big way in Assam. Gone are the
days when legislators would resign at the slightest slur on their
reputation and integrity and the times when the electorate would reject
tainted politicians. If it were so, at least a third of the legislators
in Assam would have to seek alternate careers. Only last month Ripun
Bora was disgracefully caught trying to bribe an official of the CBI
investigating his involvement in the murder of a political rival Daniel
Topno. It would not be a surprise, however, if the former Assam
education minister does manage to win another election. There are
serious allegations against other ministers of the Assam government.
Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's name comes up in relation to the
murder of Congress leader Manabendra Sarma. In spite of repeated
allegations by many organisations and political parties, Sarma
maintains a stoic silence. Perhaps, he should clear his name by a CBI
probe?
Similar allegations
have surfaced against another member of the cabinet Gautam Roy, who has
been accused of complicity in the disappearance of political rival and
NRI businessman Pratul Deb, by Deb's daughter and others. Mr. Roy,
representing a long and distinguished lineage of politicians would do
well to remove the aspersions on him by subjecting to a probe by the
CBI. Another minister under the public scanner in recent times is the
water resources minister Bharat Narah. On the first day of the just
concluded monsoon session of the Assam assembly, two organisations from
his constituency Dhakuakhana held a press meet at Gauhati and alleged
his involvement in the murder of Biren Doley, Golap Kuli, Pabitra Patir
and Dibya Doley. A few days later, family members of the murdered
youths addressed another press conference alleging the complicity of
Narah. Should he not clear his name and reputation of over two decades
of political life by acceding to the demand for a CBI probe? Power
minister Pradyut Bordoloi's name has been dragged into the the
disappearance of Prasanna Turung, who was Bordoloi's rival from the NCP
during the last assembly elections. Turung and his wife has been
missing for several months and the NCP has alleged the complicity of
the minister. Instead of ignoring such charges, the minister should
have the matter probed in a transparent way to clear his name.
Other
legislators facing criminal charges in Assam include several former
militants who are now members of the state Assembly. They include
former ULFA leaders Kushal Deori and Jiten Gogoi who now represent
Demow and Bokakhat assembly costituencies respectively. Only the other
day a minister revealed in the Assembly that Agriculture minister
Pramila Rani Brahma, Parliamentary Secretary Parameswar Brahma and
Bodoland Territorial Council Chief Executive Member Hagrama Mohilary
still face charges of engineering bomb explosions near the Assam
assembly hostel and the capital complex dating back to their days as
leaders of the violent Bodoland movement.
The
government should either dismiss these charges due to the changed
political circumstances, although that would amount to gross injustice
to the families of those maimed or killed during these violent
incidents or let the law take its own course so that the principles of
justice are upheld. However neither would happen, for in this country,
politicians from every party agree on one thing - that time is a great
healer. With time people forget and more so if the perpetrator happens
to be a politician. In this context one must consider Ripun Bora a
really unlucky person.
Crime
and politics seem to have taken root in each other's territories and
found the going quite comfortable. Its a reflection of the society at
large, where corruption is rampant and all pervading and breaking the
law is considered a small price to pay for the riches beyond. It's a
reality of the times where the likes of Dr. Manmohan Singh, L.K. Advani
or A.B.Bardhan would not think twice before seeking the votes of MPs
serving life terms.
Raj Phukan
Editor
www.allaboutassam.com
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