Kiran’s justification is unacceptable: K.J. Rao
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s comment differentiating the corruption among politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen, has drawn flak from several quarters.
“Kiran Kumar Reddy’s comments that money earned by illegal means by politicians goes back to the electorate, is nothing but a stain on democracy,” said former adviser to the election commission, Dr K.J. Rao.
Dr Rao said that candidates spend huge sums in elections in India to influence the voter and get votes, which is not lawful. When that is the case, it is unbecoming and also unethical on the part of the Chief Minister to talk as if he supports votes being purchased by politicians.
“Corruption is only of one kind. One cannot differentiate it and try to cover up for politicians and blame others,” Mr Rao said.
He said that South Indian states are the worst when it comes to luring voters. “Especially in Andhra Pradesh, it has become a routine affair for candidates to spend crores of rupees to purchase votes and distribute liquor etc. Where is all this money coming from if not from their corrupt deals? We cannot accept the theory that whatever the politician earns he will spend on voters,” Mr Rao fumed.
CPI state secretary K. Narayana was equally critical of the CM’s comments. “How can anyone justify purchase of votes by politicians? It is political bankruptcy, that is exhibited by the Chief Minister so shamelessly. If one can weed out corruption by politicians it will be easy to root out corruption by bureaucrats and businessmen. Politicians get illegal money by doing favours to industrialists,” Mr Narayana said.
Former minister D.K. Samarasimha Reddy said the Chief Minister is frustrated by recent political developments and is in a confused state of mind.
“I don’t know what the thinking of the Chief Minister is on democracy, the Constitution, judiciary and rule of law. Does he want to abrogate himself ? He needs to ponder over whether he wants to run the government in accordance with the Constitution and rule of law or he wants to dance to the tune of corrupt elements in society,” Mr Reddy said.
Such statements will only make the government a laughing stock and law and justice will become non-existent, he added.