At last the cat's out of the bag! Thank you, L.K. Advani, for that. Addressing an election rally in Haryana last week, the DPM advised the audience: "Vote for BJP and its allies. If you are unhappy with us, vote for Congress and its allies. Voting for any other party is wasting your vote."
Advani was targeting Haryana CM Chautala whose party, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), was part of the NDA. The BJP turned against Chautala in this poll because it claimed he had lost public support. Under the circumstances, it is astounding that Advani preferred the Congress to INLD. With his advice, Advani confirmed that the BJP and Congress are two sides of the same coin. And that coin is counterfeit. The economic mafia that runs the nation's politics minted it. It matters little to the godfathers controlling this country whether Vajpayee or Sonia governs it. It is they who will continue to rule it.
The argument that the BJP and Congress denote political stability is absurd. The continuation of the same PM while coalition partners leave or join the government due to the winning or losing of office does not reflect stability. It reflects irrelevance of ideology and policy. It implies corruption. It implies that politicians are puppets on a string. The anti-defection law becomes meaningless when entire parties can be made to leave or join the government. For real stability, Advani should have proposed a common Lok Sabha symbol for all NDA partners to convert an unsteady coalition into a stable federation. The BJP symbol could have been sacrificed.
But the media seems happy with the 'system'. Its reaction to the recent D.P. Yadav affair was symptomatic. Commentators despaired when Yadav was invited to join the BJP as this promoted criminalisation. They were relieved when he was removed because that cleansed politics.
How is Yadav a criminal? Ignore those BJP members who have acknowledged links with Dawood Ibrahim. Compare Advani himself with Yadav. Advani was accused in two criminal cases. No evidence was found to convict him. That gives Advani a two-fold innocence. Yadav is accused in 38 criminal cases. No evidence has been found to convict him. That gives Yadav a 38-fold innocence! Imagine, the poor man was harassed in 38 different investigations but not a shred of evidence was found. And if it were argued that Yadav manipulated the system to evade conviction, how can that same system certify Advani's innocence?
These are questions the media will never raise. So vote BJP or Congress, the 'system' reigns!
(Puri can be reached at rajinderpuri2000@yahoo.com)
