Law and politics are inseparable. They are the subsets of government. Government is a union made from law, politics and people. Whereas ‘Law’ can be defined as set of rules and regulations that govern a country, ‘Politics’ can be defined as an area or subject which leads a person to think for the welfare of people. This was the traditional definition of politics; the modern definition will replace the ‘social welfare’ with ‘self-welfare’.
Various scams and scandals that we are witnessing today are in keeping with the modern definition of politics. Instead of thinking about the welfare of poor people, the politicians/ministers indulge in earning profits for themselves. This can be seen from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme wherein the money sent for the beneficiaries is being siphoned off by various officials in the states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. People are dying of hunger but the corrupt politicians are busy filling their own bank accounts.
Recently, a survey conducted by Election Regulation Watch [ERC] revealed Kamal Nath as the richest cabinet minister with a wealth of Rs 263 crore. Other politicians were also on the list and it also shows that 90 per cent of the wealth earned by them comes after they become cabinet minister. The results clearly show that they are following the ‘laws of the modern definition of politics’— like a law-abiding citizen!
Before any elections, many laws are passed, just to influence the public at large and to get their votes. Once they come into power, they forget everything and indulge in corrupt practices. They even take money and adjourn the motions of the parliament too. As Sushma Swaraj pointed out -‘they (Members of Parliament) halt the motion and adjourn it, for money.’
Because of such ‘benefits’, many people are trying to enter the game of politics. Like Baba Ramdev who was very well used by BJP last year and Anna hazare who may be thinking about the welfare of the people but does not know that the Jan Lokpal Bill of his team is even weaker than the government’s.
I would, instead, support the ‘Iron lady of India’, Irom Sharmila, who has been fasting from the past 10 years now and fighting for the removal of Arms Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur altogether. It is a very brutal legislation wherein the soldiers and policeman can detain any person without a warrant or kill anybody, if they suspect him/her of causing any disruption. But at the same time, they wouldn’t be held responsible for it if the person is killed/ detained wrongly.
Another example of law in politics is the demand for a separate Telangana state, from Andhra Pradesh. Telangana Rashtriya Samiti chief Chandrashekar Rao wants to come into power. The party is playing politics influencing people that they will develop the Telangana region and want a legislation to be passed regarding its separation from Andhra Pradesh. The bifurcation may not reult in any development but would surely create many problems, if nothing else; it will fill the pocket of Chandrashekar Rao and his party members.
India is a democratic country—of the people, by the people and for the people. But people go into oblivion as soon as our so called representatives become ministers. Treading the path of modern definition of politics religiously, they twist the laws in every possible way in order to satisfy their ‘ways’.
Apoorva Sharma
