We believed that Congress party was the anchor dragging our nation’s progress to the depths, branding them as the epitome of corruption.
Yet, within 10 years, BJP has emerged, in the guise of patriotism and a grand illusion of nationalistic fervour, they filled their coffers to unprecedented levels. Corruption by BJP will be unparalleled in the annals of Independent India. They are not just successors to Congress’s corrupt legacy but perhaps even matches the colonial vileness and loot of the East India Company.
The audacity with which they’ve executed this grand theft, under the watchful eyes of the very citizens they vowed to serve, is both astounding and chilling. It’s a stark reminder of how easily virtues can be twisted into vices when greedy ones lead the nation.
Over the past decade, the fabric of our independent democratic institutions has been systematically unraveled and weakened. These democratic institutions, designed to operate with autonomy and serve as checks and balances against the misuse of power, have been strangled by the tightening grip of political interference. Their roles have been so diminished, their voices so muffled, that they now stand toothless, unable to fulfill their critical mandates. Regulatory bodies, judicial systems, and oversight agencies were not perfect even before, however crippled they had their charm. Now, they have been co-opted, their independence eroded through strategic appointments, funding cuts, and legislative changes aimed at diluting their authority. This orchestrated abuse of power has not only compromised their ability to act but has also eroded public trust in these institutions, further undermining the very foundations of our democratic system. The result is a weakened structure unable to defend against the encroachments of those who seek to consolidate power, leaving the principles of fairness, justice, and accountability in peril. This, in my view, is the highest form of corruption!
This is the case from all the white transactions and the news that reaches publication. It could be a tip of an iceberg. I am worried, a far greater beast lurks in the shadows, stories that never see the light of day, fed by dark money in a parallel economy.
And yet, there will be voices that still rise in their defense, claiming these acts of blatant corruption are sacrifices for the nation’s betterment. Yes, I have seen such. They could come up with excuses like “who else", threat of war with neighbors, reviving the lost history, straightening of the line of injustice since time of invaders and many more. Such is the depth of the brainwashing we’ve endured. When our emotional and psychological chords are stroked, rationalism goes into hibernation.
It’s high time we awaken from this induced hibernation and question not just the actions of those in power but the very narratives they feed us. For in the end, it’s not just about who governs us but the very essence of democracy itself that’s at stake.