Further to yesterday's discussion about curruption

Here is a quote about it from "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. I feel, to a major extent Indian politics of bribery can be attributed to this way of thinking.

... The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for people to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens?What's there in that for anyone? But pass the kind of laws that neither can be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted - an you create a nation of law breakers -- and then you cash on the guilt.

Politics of Terrorism

Reading about these chain of events got me thinking:
http://www.rediff.com/news/dec/01mitra.htm --- Indira Gandhi covertly supports LTTE
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20060521_02 --- Rajiv Gandhi gets assassinated
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/51/099.html --- US and Pakistan supported Islamic Extremists
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks --- 9/11
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021601063.html --- Taliban in Pakistan
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pak-created-and-nurtured-terrorists-concedes-zardari/486672/ --- Zardari Acknowledges

http://www.guardianweekly.co.uk/?page=editorial&id=479&catID=1 ---
If corrupt officials can be translated as terrorists, a government that supports corruption terrorizes its people in subtle ways, so that people are afraid to protest.

In above kinds of terrorism, support to militants involves (generally speaking) a concentrated number of people and the main objective is to either attract attention or kill a target whether it results in killing of innocent civilians or not.

However, the terrorism of corruption seeps into the society through every nook and cranny to every single mind in the country.

It is a jolly good way to control a people! All you need is one case where a protestant was killed or simply given a hard time, and a whole society/generation grows up being afraid or terrorized. -- Corruption is a form of Terrorism

Criminal Candidates

Indian law does not allow those awaiting trial to vote but there is no bar on people fighting elections from jail if not yet convicted. The Election Commission has ordered all candidates to clearly state in an affidavit the number of cases pending against them. Close to 40 per cent of Lok Sabha candidates belonging to the leading political parties in face criminal charges that range from assault, extortion, rioting, attempt to murder and defamation. At least 18 people facing serious criminal charges, including the alleged mastermind behind the leak of papers for entrance tests to management institutes, are contesting the parliamentary elections from Bihar. The High Court has said that candidates with criminal records and lodged in jail have no right to contest the elections. The fact that the voting rights of prisoners with a criminal background are suspended under election laws gives additional support to this new ruling.While some of the political parties appreciate and support the High Court's stand, there are a few others who prefer to be silent on this ruling. The Indian Election Commission has in recent years tried to tackle the problem of criminal politicians by making it harder for candidates with criminal records to stand for election. But the trouble is that the cases against many candidates have not been proved. In fact, it is hard to find a single case of a politician being sent to jail for corruption in independent India. In 1997, the Election Commission issued an order requiring candidates to submit affidavits about their convictions for any of the above criminal offences. However there was no provision in the election law to make this information available to the voter. The Law Commission gave voice to the growing feeling among voters that it was not enough to disqualify criminals found guilty by a court. In the last general elections , it's estimated that around 1,000 candidates who were alleged to have committed a wide range of crimes stood for election. These varied from murder, theft and rape to extortion and banditry.

http://www.indian-elections.com/national-issues/criminal-candidates.html

Political Debate – Need of the hour

Since I have been living in Canada for the past 10/12 years, I have been observing the quiet political scene here, as compared to the loud and gaudy politics of India. I am not saying that politicians are well behaved or there is no mud slinging in the parliament.

What I am saying is that election times are seen as chance to choose, by the people rather than traffic jams, huge pandals and hoardings all over the place probably accompanied by loud music. The election commission does not ban processions or does not clearly ban the use of posters on public places and traffic signals. At least it is not mentioned on the following website.

http://www.indian-elections.com/national-issues/criminal-candidates.html

There is a code of conduct that is followed. The signs for cadidates are of a prescribed size and are posted only at prescribed places. They do not cover traffic signals.

What is more interesting and worth copying (for once copy the good things of the west), is the fact that political leaders participate in debates on National TV.

I feel India should hold debates for all types of elections starting from municipal to the national. I am not sure if this type debate is part of Indian politics.

The debates should, of course, be mediated and people should judge the candidates based on their behaviour and answers during this debate.

I think we as Indians, should challenge the candidates more. Make them sweat over answers to the real questions that matter and watch out for the standard memorized solutions. Let them face unforeseen controversial questions.

Widespread Incompetence in Government

Reported at indianexpress.com

The question about such is news is not whether they are authentic or not or whether the party is responsible for what it’s candidate or member says or does. I think the real question goes back to the basics.

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  What do we really believe in as being “religious” or “anti-religious” The integrity and competence of our political leaders.
  
  
  
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  Competence is an important topic to discuss in matters of politics and running the country.
  

  New Delhi: Distancing itself from Varun Gandhi's hate speeches, the BJP told the Election Commission that his remarks do not represent the views of the party even as it asked the poll panel to check the genuineness of the CD containing the comments.
  

  "The Bharatiya Janata Party categorically states that it completely disagrees, disassociates and disapproves the contents of the CD as sent to us," party leader R Ramakrishna said in his single page reply to an EC notice.
  

  Even assuming that a speech has been delivered by a member of the party, these contents do not represent the views of the party or its policies, it added.
  

  Election Commission had issued a notice to BJP and Varun Gandhi, the party's candidate from Pilibhit, on the alleged anti-Muslim speeches made by him early this month.
  

  However, the party avoided mentioning Varun as an official candidate in the reply. "Merely because a member of the party has expressed views contrary to what the party stands for, the party cannot be vested with any responsibility," the BJP said, adding ‘the party is also independently looking into the matter.’
  

  While stating that BJP was unaware of the speech by Varun till its contents were telecast by news channels, the letter asked EC to check the authenticity of the CD.