Freeing the nation from Laloos - The Times of India (Bangalore)

• Messages sorted by: [ author ]
[ publication ][ subject ][ thread ]
• Next message: Editorial : "Mr. Yadav's exit"
• Previous message: Pushpa Iyengar : "'You will be killed, go back to Hindustan'"

Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, the man who has come to symbolise corruption and
degeneration of the political system, has at last resigned, but not without
exacting a price. Facing arrest and a stint in the lock-up - judicial or
otherwise - he has ensured that he is succeeded by his wife. While the law
has almost caught up with him, Mr Yadav has seen to it that power remains
in the family so that he can continue to rule by proxy from wherever he is
lodged. The efforts of all those who wanted Laloo to be punished for what
he has done to Bihar's treasury have in a way succeeded, but only up to a
point. A chief minister who has sought to enrich himself at the cost of
the people he pretended to serve has been made to give up his gaddi, but he
has seen to it that power goes into the hands of none else than the one who
has vowed to follow in her husband's footsteps.

The way Mr Yadav's exit has come about is more a tragedy than a triumph of
the political system which he has used with considerable skill for himself,
his family and friends. The man rose from anonymity to prominence, and over
the years became perhaps the most powerful chief minister - arrogant and
autocratic. There was a risk last year of his even becoming Prime
Minister; and if he had succeeded in his effort, he might have done to the
country what he has done to Bihar.

That men of values and conscience were able to assert themselves ultimately
and force Mr Yadav to quit is a triumph of the system, but only limited in
scope. The rejoicing has to be restrained. That such a man could continue
for so long in power, loot Bihar's treasury and challenge the rest of the
country to throw him out of power reflects on the functioning of the
system, which has yet to find effective ways to deal with those who have
misused power for personal enrichment and patronage. That he could defy
the principles of public accountability and morality for so long speaks
more of the shortcomings of the system than of its strengths.

The nation needs to ponder how such men can come to power at all, misuse it
for their ends and invoke the people's mandate to take away what belongs to
them. The people of Bihar, most of them without the strength to speak for
themselves, did not know how to get rid of a ruler whose concern for those
who had voted him to power was more in words than real. It is not charisma
or exceptional cleverness that helped him to indulgently go for the state's
coffers, but a cynical disregard of the principle that a ruler elected by
the people is accountable to them and that the moment his conduct comes
under question it is his moral duty to step aside. Mr Yadav has been
immune to observing such niceties essential for a functioning democracy.

MP Yadav's exit and possible arrest should open the eyes of the nation
about what unchecked corruption can do. There are Laloos in other states
also with varying degrees of entrepreneurial efficiency who need to be
tackled with greater will and determination than has been forthcoming over
the years. The fiftieth anniversary of India's Independence can be observed
better by freeing the nation from the Laloos of the land than by garlanding
Mahatma Gandhi's statues.

• Next message: Editorial : "Mr. Yadav's exit"
• Previous message: Pushpa Iyengar : "'You will be killed, go back to Hindustan'"

Back                          Top