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Murder, assault and abduction are common crimes in Indian politics. Political parties in India deliberately encourage their cadres to commit crimes. Organized crime generates fear. Political opposition in India means nothing more than creating fear through crime. In such a context parties that do not have criminals among their cadres cannot survive. The criminalization of politics is the norm in India.
A few days ago three hardcore criminals were released from custody in Uttar Pradesh. These men had been placed behind bars due to their criminal antecedents. They are now released from custody because the Congress Party-led ruling alliance required their votes in the Indian Parliament to ensure its survival. One such criminal was even offered a ministerial post. Such is democracy in India.
The public vision of an average Indian politician is limited to five years, or until the next election. Within this magic period of five years, an elected politician can gain the maximum benefit from his term, inside and outside the government. The majority of politicians are only interested in inflating their private purses. Most of them have no commitment to the people or the country.
In the past, the criminalization of politics was a subject of debate in India. The former chief election commissioner of India, T. N. Sheshan, used all his constitutional authority to rid Indian politics of crime and criminals. But later he himself proved that this approach was ineffective in practical Indian politics. After retirement, he contested an election on a panel proposed and supported by Jayalalitha, a notorious Indian film actress-turned-politician from Tamil Nadu.
Politics, and the criminal behavior they encourage, have infiltrated not just the legislatures in India. As happened in Kerala, illuminated by the murder of Augustine, the criminalization of the Indian polity affects every aspect of an ordinary Indian’s life.
Educational institutions are one of the most affected by this curse. In Kerala state, for example, student activities within colleges are polluted by politics and the criminals that dictate such politics. Students and their unions are infiltrated and corrupted by criminal elements. Even premier educational institutions are not immune to this cancer. Every year at least a dozen students lose their lives during student political activities. Student elections are dominated by criminal elements who roam around on college campuses during college union elections.
These students, who receive training in crime during their college days, later become party leaders in India. Many of them drop out of school. It is no wonder that a majority of Indian politicians lack even a basic degree. It is these men and women who later decide India’s state policies.
As for Augustine, the political parties in Kerala state have called for a state-wide general strike to protest his murder. Schools and colleges will remain closed today. Those who dare to teach will be beaten up and could even be murdered. In India often the way to avenge a murder is by murder.
No one seems to be interested in discussing why party cadres were allowed to attack a teachers’ training workshop in the first place. What were the police doing when criminals attacked the workshop armed with dangerous weapons? Will this case be investigated and the murderers punished? Will the conduct of the police officers who refused to intervene and prevent the murder be investigated? Will these officers be punished?
It appears – as in several thousands of similar cases – these issues will not be investigated or even discussed. Chances are the murderers will go unpunished and the police officers who witnessed the murder of a teacher will get promoted in regular course as time passes.
Are these condemnable acts an essential element of democracy? Is crime a prerequisite for politics? Is this what multi-party democracy is all about? Or is the term democracy merely a facade for organized crime in countries like India?
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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.)
