05-01-2006, 08:33 PM
By Arun Nehru
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->BJP leader Pramod Mahajan continues to struggle for survival and we pray for his recovery. I cannot find words to describe my shock and sorrow at the unfortunate development. There are many issues we must reflect on, as such incidents, in different shapes and forms, will continue to take place in the future. <b>Accidents involving important political leaders and political assassinations have a way of throwing lives out of gear, and, over the last week, we have seen how much Mr Mahajan's tragic shooting has affected our activities.</b>
Dynastic rule is no longer an ailment restricted to the Congress; it has spread to all regional parties with a single "supreme leader". This has further extended into the domain of even individual MPs and MLAs and - barring the Left - the number of parties with sons, daughters, and even relatives controlling political power between them is a legion.<b> It is obvious that families used to the trappings of power seek to continue their hold over it through dynastic succession.</b>
The cost of "politicking" has hit through the ceiling, and we are now talking about hundreds of crores of rupees that different families now possess to control the power strings. The complexion of every political party has changed and it is only natural that, <b>in addition to political disputes, there are now disputes involving financial matters. Ignoring them can have very severe consequences.</b>
I have written on several occasions on the need to make political contributions transparent and transactions accountable. I think lack of a credible system has made honest politicians corrupt, as the system cannot be changed by any one individual. Indeed, the system is made of individuals and unless change effected from the top, things will not change.
<b>Trusts and institutions dedicated to leaders big and small involve hundreds of crores of rupees, and very often the person who controls the party also controls the assets.</b> Sibling rivalry can often be the case of dispute with deadly consequences. All this may have little to do with<b> Mr Mahajan; but it is no secret that he was the major fund-raiser for the party. Besides these skills, he was charismatic, politically bright and had a future. The wide array of reactions from across the political spectrum stands testimony to this fact.</b>
In such positions as Mr Mahajan had, <b>it is not unusual for political leaders to have hundreds of requests for favours and financial assistance and most of these have to be turned down. These result in a great deal of heartburn and friction</b>. Violence is only a few steps away and there can be little defence even if it comes from within the family.<b> Political parties are not corporate houses and unless we reform the system of political funding, we will simply not produce the leaders of the future with the integrity levels required by the masses. We will continue to have poor political parties run by rich leaders.</b>
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->BJP leader Pramod Mahajan continues to struggle for survival and we pray for his recovery. I cannot find words to describe my shock and sorrow at the unfortunate development. There are many issues we must reflect on, as such incidents, in different shapes and forms, will continue to take place in the future. <b>Accidents involving important political leaders and political assassinations have a way of throwing lives out of gear, and, over the last week, we have seen how much Mr Mahajan's tragic shooting has affected our activities.</b>
Dynastic rule is no longer an ailment restricted to the Congress; it has spread to all regional parties with a single "supreme leader". This has further extended into the domain of even individual MPs and MLAs and - barring the Left - the number of parties with sons, daughters, and even relatives controlling political power between them is a legion.<b> It is obvious that families used to the trappings of power seek to continue their hold over it through dynastic succession.</b>
The cost of "politicking" has hit through the ceiling, and we are now talking about hundreds of crores of rupees that different families now possess to control the power strings. The complexion of every political party has changed and it is only natural that, <b>in addition to political disputes, there are now disputes involving financial matters. Ignoring them can have very severe consequences.</b>
I have written on several occasions on the need to make political contributions transparent and transactions accountable. I think lack of a credible system has made honest politicians corrupt, as the system cannot be changed by any one individual. Indeed, the system is made of individuals and unless change effected from the top, things will not change.
<b>Trusts and institutions dedicated to leaders big and small involve hundreds of crores of rupees, and very often the person who controls the party also controls the assets.</b> Sibling rivalry can often be the case of dispute with deadly consequences. All this may have little to do with<b> Mr Mahajan; but it is no secret that he was the major fund-raiser for the party. Besides these skills, he was charismatic, politically bright and had a future. The wide array of reactions from across the political spectrum stands testimony to this fact.</b>
In such positions as Mr Mahajan had, <b>it is not unusual for political leaders to have hundreds of requests for favours and financial assistance and most of these have to be turned down. These result in a great deal of heartburn and friction</b>. Violence is only a few steps away and there can be little defence even if it comes from within the family.<b> Political parties are not corporate houses and unless we reform the system of political funding, we will simply not produce the leaders of the future with the integrity levels required by the masses. We will continue to have poor political parties run by rich leaders.</b>
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