Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was finally granted bail by a trial court on 20 June, but it was withheld by the Delhi High Court the very next day. The latter acted based on a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate. The Aam Aadmi Party supremo is being investigated for his role in formulating the now-scrapped Delhi Liquor Policy, which allegedly brought undue financial benefits to certain people. Kejriwal has been in custody since 21 March and the latest move by the ED will prolong it further.
The zealousness shown by the ED is, however, not reserved for Kejriwal. In the last few years, a number of prominent politicians, from the AAP as well as from other leading parties have been similarly pursued by central government agencies for alleged acts of corruption. While the Opposition has cried foul, the ruling dispensation has defended the actions of these agencies as being part of its often-touted intolerance to corruption plank.
The outcome of the recent Lok Sabha election and the latest churning in Kejriwal’s case provides an opportunity to look at what the Indian public thinks about these actions.
Over a decade ago, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was trounced in the Lok Sabha elections over corruption allegations and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Progressive Alliance (NDA) was voted in. The incoming government led by Prime Minister Modi presented itself to be immune from such temptations.
Ten years later, the central government’s credibility in fighting corruption appears to have lost much of its resonance among the Indian electorate. This is despite the fact that only Opposition leaders are charged with corruption and no major leader of the BJP has been part of similar investigations yet.
As per the findings of the post-poll survey conducted by Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), 44 per cent of Indians feel that the arrests of Opposition leaders on charges of corruption are politically motivated, while 33 per cent feel that BJP leaders are not corrupt (Table 1). This means that the central government’s actions in the name of fighting corruption are not going down well with people.
A political vendetta
Ensuring probity in the conduct of public officials and upholding the law are among the major functions of any elected government. To facilitate this responsibility, the executive is provided with specialised investigative agencies like ED, and CBI. As this power flows from an elected executive, the public is the primary source, including the more authoritative aspects of it. In other words, it is the people that determine the legitimacy of these agencies.
The way in which some of these agencies are currently functioning has only reinforced such a notion. That central investigative agencies are often misused by those in power became a widespread perception long ago. Monikers such as “Caged Parrot” for the CBI or VP Singh’s “Raid Raj” are an integral part of the political lexicon in India.
Today, while 33 per cent justify the functioning of these agencies, another 35 per cent which is more than 3 in 10 Indians hold the opinion that CBI, ED are being used to carry out political vendetta (Table 2).
Popular attitudes about the misuse of agencies are further reinforced when investigations against Opposition leaders soften when they cross over to the ruling party. Many in the Opposition allege the fear of CBI, and ED sanctions have compelled their compatriots to jump ship to the BJP. This perception has considerable takers—46 per cent of Indians believe that many of the defectors to the BJP have switched just to protect themselves from the ED and CBI (Table 3).
It therefore appears that the actions of central agencies have not bolstered the ruling dispensation’s claims about going tough on corruption. Rather, it has adversely affected popular opinion.
As far as genuinely fighting corruption is concerned, the government should encourage its agencies to boldly go about doing its job. But if allegations of misusing them are true, then the government should exercise restraint. If not for anything else but because data shows it is ‘bad politics’ for the BJP and its partners. Among Indian voters who felt that Opposition leaders were arrested due to political reasons, 31 per cent voted for the NDA while 44 per cent opted for one of the INDIA bloc parties (Table 4).
While the CBI and ED actions are ostensibly part of the BJP’s anti-corruption crusade, they are viewed by a significant portion of the public as politically motivated. This perception not only undermines the credibility of these agencies but also weakens the BJP’s stance on integrity and transparency. If public trust continues to erode, the ruling party might find its political image tarnished rather than bolstered.
The authors are researchers at Lokniti-CSDS. Views are personal.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)
In defense of crooks!!!
Court has not given the final verdict, media trying to run parallel public trial to intimidate the court.