Karnataka’s former chief minister says in today’s politics, Gandhiji would have been corrupt
You may believe it or not, Mahatma Gandhi would have been a corrupt man today if he were to swim or waddle in India's murky politics. If he were to fight corruption, Gandhiji would have quit politics and probably taken to sanyas.
Well, this is the view of former chief minister of Karnataka, H D Kumaraswamy, the president of Janata Dal (Secular) and the son of humble farmer turned once-upon-a-time prime minister H D Deve Gowda - a man who began his political journey riding a motorcycle as a contractor in dust-filled Hassan and now owns large tracts of land in and around posh areas of Bangalore.
Addressing newspersons in Hubli (north Karnataka), Kumaraswamy said there cannot be politics without corruption. "In the present political scenario, no one can organise a political party, rally or win elections without being in corruption. There could be nothing more far from the truth to say that you can organise and run a political party from the money you get from home. If anybody speaks about non-corrupt system, it will not be the truth".
He also said if Gandhians entered politics today, they would never succeed. Everybody should accept the reality, he added. Even if Mahatma Gandhi were alive today, he would have had to be corrupt to be able to run a political party. Had he stuck to virtue, the Mahatma would have had to quit politics.
As an afterthought he added: "I am making a frank observation. I do not know how people will take it. Yes, Gandhiji would have quit politics as he would not have become corrupt. Speeches alone do not win votes today. It will be almost impossible even for Mahatma Gandhi to change this mind set and system now. Every politician is under obligation, big or small. Even people have become corrupt. They directly ask how much a candidate pays for a vote."
Speaking from experience, he said: "Every morning even an ordinary, let alone the famous, MLA will have 50 people in front of his house. People come with all kinds of problems. He will have to give away anywhere between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 every day to the needy. Can he do this from his own pocket or earnings? His salary does not permit this. This is precisely why every politician depends on donations. And when an MLA gets a donation, he is obliged to do a favour. There is no single politician who is not bound by such obligations"
Kumaraswamy was of the opinion that for a total eradication of corruption a Anna Hazare-type of moment (meaning largely driven by social media networks) would not be enough; it would need a much bigger movement than the struggle for India's Independence.
HDK, as Kumaraswamy is known, said politics and corruption are synonymous today. If a politician claims that he is completely clean and not corrupt, he must be telling a beautifully big lie.
But what is ironical is that HDK is himself caught in scams. He has been accused of being involved in a Rs 150-crore bribery case while he was chief minister.
HDK is also battling Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa over charges ranging from nepotism to making money in various forms. Of late he has been producing a series of documents to prove that Yeddyurappa and his sons were involved in several scams and shady deals.
Source: India Syndicate
All politicians and bureaucrats are hand in gloves with corruption. What can ordinary and struggling Indian citizens expect. The whole system is stinking. India needs a revolution and day is not far away now. The supposedly most powerful man Mr. Prime Minister of India though well educated is too soft on all important issues. His mentality
seems to be Oh I am getting too old now, have made enough money, have enough security for myself then why break my head at this stage for anybody. He knows very well all the corruption that exists but he is too busy travelling foreign countries. He has given up. He has no energy and will to do anything really. This so called democracy is not good for India in its present form. The coalition govts should not be allowed as it renders govt. inefficient to deal with corruption and take decisions as it fears toppling if it goes against the coalition members. Then there is President in India, whi**** just a joke and burden on taxpayers. She is thanking havens for enjoying palace treatment for 5 years. No no and never for me that struggling ppl in India are going to any better unless there is a drastic change in constitution and mainly Government.
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