24 June 2024 : Daily Answer Writing
Q1) “It is not power, but fear that corrupts. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.”
(150 Words/10 Marks)
ANS
Fear is one of the most significant prime movers for a person to do things which one will otherwise restraint to do when in a rational mind. Political corruption in the country breeds on the notion of fear.
Fear of losing power instigates those who wield it to resort to corrupt practices, like:
- It is seen that public representatives often resort to illicit means in order to remain in power or to return in power.
E.g., misuse of political power to influence public officials; horse trading; money for votes.
- Public officials neglect their official duties, code of conduct etc., to please and placate their political bosses, in order to continue on plum postings.
E.g., A District Magistrate/SP.
- Misuse of article 356 to topple democratically elected governments highlights how fear of losing power fuels corrupt means and methods to retain power.
- The criminalisation of electoral politics is another way by which the political parties try to retain their power.
E.g., political parties fielding ‘tainted’ candidates to leverage their winnability.
- Nepotism and crony capitalism are increasingly becoming associated with the parliamentary politics in the country.
E.g., 2G scam, Coal Block Scam.
- Some experts argue that the desire to continue in power and retain official privileges post-retirement leads to a committed judiciary as well as bureaucracy.
E.g., a former CJI nominated to Rajya Sabha; a DGP took voluntary retirement and joined ruling party in Bihar.
The fear of scourge of power also leads to corruption of those who are subjected to that power as:
- It is argued by some experts that bureaucrats toe the line of the political executive in order to prevent harassment at the hands of their bosses.
E.g., fear of CVC, CBI and CAG.
- It is often seen that even ordinary citizens refrain from reporting political crimes, murders etc., due to fear of the strongman leaders.
E.g., witnesses turning hostile; judicial perjury.
- Use of black money in the elections is an example of a deep-seated nexus between politicians and business houses.
E.g., funding of political parties from ill-gotten wealth to gain favours and prevent persecution.
- Fear of their superiors in the cutting-edge bureaucracy leads them to employ corrupt means in order to ensure brownie points in their Annual Confidential Report (ACR).
In his famous inaugural speech, American President, F D Roosevelt said that the only thing that we need to fear is fear itself. In this light we need to understand the way fear influence our mind and consequently our actions. Therefore, by adopting means such as transparency, accountability and integrity both at the level of political executive as well as other stakeholders, we can minimise/eliminate the menace of political corruption emanating from fear.
