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Several months ago a Malayalam movie was released in the state of Kerala. The movie, which was a box office hit, was resented by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders in Kerala because the movie exposed the corrupt practices of the CPM and its leaders. The CPM state secretariat issued an order to its cadres to boycott the movie.
The producer of the movie, however, reaped high returns since the masses enjoyed the movie. Those who issued the boycott order were also seen coming out of the cinemas after enjoying the "prohibited" movie while their local cadres were protesting in front of the movie theaters. This incident is just one example of the extent to which the communist movement in India has fallen. The violence that took place in Nandigram in West Bengal earlier this year was no surprise.
Once known for its people-centric policies, like the Kerala Land Reforms Act of 1963, the communist movement in India has now become a corporate business house. Corporations have their declared raison d'être -- to make profit. They are honest at least on this point. In India, however, politics and serving the masses have become the shortcut to instant riches.
It is just not the communist parties in India that have become synonymous with business. For that matter, every political party is known for deceit and corrupt practices. Capitalists, communists, right wingers and left wingers are all alike when it comes to the deceit and fraud they practice upon the country's ordinary people and the pseudopatriotism they pretend to breath and sweat. As for truly caring for people at the grassroots, the political parties and their leaders in India can beat chameleons for their swiftness in changing colors.
The CPM and Congress leaders in Kerala are a good example. While several CPM leaders pretend they are leading a never-ending fight against the so-called imperialist forces, and many Congress leaders wear torn cloths to show that they are wed to poverty and a simple life, several of these peoples' leaders own million-dollar businesses within and outside the country.
There is a newly developing township in Dubai. Many of these peoples' leaders in India have millions of dollars worth of real estate on lease for 90 years and other investments in this township. One might wonder, with the declared income that the leaders legally receive for their services to the people, how they can manage enough money to buy property abroad that is worth millions.
One CPM leader in Kerala is known for his business interests in Singapore that are valued in the billions. The question is, how is all this investment possible? While millions of people in India struggle to make a living every day, how can their leaders run such rich business interests inside and outside the country? This reality is the dark face of Indian politics.
Most politicians who reign within the democratic space of the world's largest democracy are nothing other than criminals. Take, for example, the politicians from the northern states of India. More than 70 percent of them are facing charges for such crimes as robbery, murder and rape. A recent minister who was forced to resign from the Uttar Pradesh State Cabinet for being involved in the suspected abduction and murder of a woman was initially not able to assume office since he was in jail for a murder case.
An independent organization, the Uttar Pradesh State Election Watch, conducted a detailed survey for the 2006 state government elections to monitor the criminal records of the candidates who contested the state election. From the affidavits signed and submitted by the contesting candidates alone, the organization compiled data revealing that more than 80 percent of the candidates who contested the election, irrespective of their party, were dreaded criminals.
This finding was the same verdict for political party leaders, including serving ministers, in most other states in northern India. In this context, it is no wonder that a former central government senior minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party is now facing criminal charges for serving local brew mixed with narcotic substances to the guests he had invited for a private function at his house.
Being a politician in India, whether the party the person allegedly leads is rich or poor, ensures impunity and privileged treatment. Those who are not privileged are the ordinary people of India. They are bound to bear the burden of maintaining these criminals at all costs.
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(Bijo Francis is a human rights lawyer currently working with the Asian Legal Resource Center in Hong Kong. He is responsible for the South Asia desk at the center. Mr. Francis has practiced law for more than a decade and holds an advanced master's degree in human rights law.)
