- Now, the subject matter may sound like a stuck record repeating perpetually, or in a worst-case scenario, the topic doesn’t even generate a cursory glance anymore. Rather it may evoke utter contempt from the citizens towards the existing system prevalent. Of course, the unholy nexus between the political fraternity and the bureaucracy continues unabated leading to several problems bogging the nation, including the all-pervasive and deeply entrenched corruption. The biggest bane of the nation’s progress in more than one way over the decades is none other than corruption which has built such an impregnable fortress that it is well-nigh impossible to breach.
PC: NSW ICAC
- Despite several efforts to break the nexus, including the well-intentioned Supreme Court judgments, the eventual result has yielded nothing to crow about for want of honest political intent. As you are aware, every political party in power willfully indulges in political vendetta targeting the opposition voices by using the police force even if it lacks locus standi in the eyes of the law failing to stand legal scrutiny. Such cases reported in the country are increasing by the day whenever opposition criticizes the ruling dispensation or many sane voices of dissent emanating from the other side are not taken sportingly by the ruling government.
- What do they do? Simply unleashing the law-and-order machinery like the police on the dissenting voices only to lend further credence to the ever-growing chorus of the vengeful political vendetta. One such recent incident in Maharashtra and Gujarat respectively has caught the nation’s attention as well. As reported, Maharashtra’s MP-MLA couple Navneet and Ravi Rana and Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani are independent politicians at two ends of the political spectrum but find themselves united by a common, disturbing, and ever-growing strand of state overreach. The Ranas were arrested on charges by Mumbai police after threatening to protest outside CM’s residence and Mevani by Assam police for tweeting against the Prime Minister.
PC: AMRITANANDA CHAKRAVORTY
- Almost certainly, the police is neither instance were functioning on their own accord. Ordinarily, the Ranas would have been booked on bailable offenses like unlawful assembly or disobeying a public servant’s order. However, their political contestation with Shiv Sena can be reasonably suspected as the cause of the sedition charge, which tantamounts to accusing them of treachery against the government. Mevani’s case is no less an overreach as police traveled from one end of the country to the other end for a tweet. Intriguingly, just as Mevani got bail, he was re-arrested for alleged obscenity, assault, and an insult to a woman cop from Assam.
- The fallout of such brazen misuse of power is the justice system also coming under needless strain as judicial magistrates often lack the gumption to call the political bluff. Thus, a misfiring, dysfunctional police unable to assert itself while maximalist politics shows no signs of receding portends more rights violations. Thus, it is left to the higher judiciary with its independence and powers to enforce the rule of law to act against state overreach that netas are intent on effacing.
