- The Bharatiya Janata Party never misses an opportunity to portray itself as a party with a difference when it comes to matters about nepotism, handling corruption, dynastic polity, and encouraging grassroots workers by rewarding positions incommensurate with responsibilities delivered over a period. To its credit, the party has succeeded in living up to its reputation more often than not. But few instances of late are in contrast to what the party tries to advocate openly. The Lakhimpur Kheri instance in Uttar Pradesh comes readily to mind. Yet another instance is playing out in Karnataka involving no less than a cabinet minister accused of abetting the murder of a contractor who committed suicide by accusing the politician.
PC: YOGENDRA YADAV
- No wonder, the opposition Congress went on the offensive smelling an opportunity to place the government on the mat. As the clamoring for the resignation grew louder from different quarters, the pressure started mounting on the minister as well as the Chief Minister to act on the matter without wasting much time. Possibly owing to the high command’s diktat, KS Eshwarappa, minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj has resigned from the cabinet. Of course, he had been booked earlier by the police in a case about abetment of suicide. The victim had claimed the state government had not paid him for the civil work executed to the tune of Rs. 4 crores.
- The ongoing drama once again reveals the obnoxious link between civil contractors and political powerbrokers. Of course, it’s neither new nor unique to Karnataka. However, what’s eye-catching is that the Karnataka state contractors association had threatened to stop ongoing work as a mark of protest against the level of corruption in the state. Yes, at the political level and given the allegations and the FIR, Eshwarappa’s resignation while the investigation is being carried out is the right step. As mentioned above, BJP’s electoral success has partly been built on a perception of providing a clean government. Mind you, the government in Karnataka has to face the elections next year and the events surrounding this development aren’t going to help.
PC: istockphoto
- Needless to mention, political propriety required his exit. As you are aware, the government of Karnataka is also facing grave corruption charges from several quarters even as the Prime Minister’s Office too was sounded about the same. Corruption is a hydra-headed phenomenon that cannot be tackled by a single law or a sweeping gesture. Thus, combating it requires both institutional improvements and process refinements. Remember, governments are the largest spenders on civil contracts and higher official echelons have enormous discretionary power, while lower levels of bureaucracy and police lack meaningful autonomy. In this mix, the political executive and governing parties have opportunities to subvert the system. Therefore, fighting corruption as propagated by the BJP should take precedence over everything else.
