We are all aware of the cash-for-votes scandal that hit the headlines in July 2008 when video tapes were released by the opposition party showing its MPs being bribed to save the government. It left an indelible blot on the idea of democracy where representatives of people were caught red-handed accepting money and in turn selling their votes. It just confirmed the level of corruption in India, the largest democracy in the world.
Same thing is taking place once again in Tamil Nadu but under the garb of freebies. The ruling as well as the opposition parties are competing with each other as to which one of them gives out more gifts. Freebies include a mixer, grinder, TV, laptop, free bus travel for senior citizens, rice at subsidized rates, free goats for poor families and even direct cash transfers! Forget about the results, people are just waiting for the elections to get over! Just to give you some idea of generosity: according to one newspaper, freebies that were announced by the earlier governments have cost around Rs.100, 000 crores!
Something seems to puzzle me about the whole affair: why do we not consider this in the same bracket as cash-for-votes scam. Just because it is out in the public officially at the insistence of parties (who want to garner as much attention as they can) and people are being benefited at large it is not considered as buying votes? These are the same people who were screaming on television abusing those politicians who tried to jeopardize national interest for their personal gains. But now it is okay as we are all getting something out of the booty. Secondly, this also prevents honest independent candidates and smaller parties from making their mark in the election as they can not afford such largess. It is like our own money (in the form of taxes) is being used by them (in the form of gifts) to win our hearts and rule us for five years as a result. Democracy is being mocked at, meanwhile there are parties happening in Tamil Nadu, courtesy some other parties (read political parties)!
Same thing is taking place once again in Tamil Nadu but under the garb of freebies. The ruling as well as the opposition parties are competing with each other as to which one of them gives out more gifts. Freebies include a mixer, grinder, TV, laptop, free bus travel for senior citizens, rice at subsidized rates, free goats for poor families and even direct cash transfers! Forget about the results, people are just waiting for the elections to get over! Just to give you some idea of generosity: according to one newspaper, freebies that were announced by the earlier governments have cost around Rs.100, 000 crores!
Something seems to puzzle me about the whole affair: why do we not consider this in the same bracket as cash-for-votes scam. Just because it is out in the public officially at the insistence of parties (who want to garner as much attention as they can) and people are being benefited at large it is not considered as buying votes? These are the same people who were screaming on television abusing those politicians who tried to jeopardize national interest for their personal gains. But now it is okay as we are all getting something out of the booty. Secondly, this also prevents honest independent candidates and smaller parties from making their mark in the election as they can not afford such largess. It is like our own money (in the form of taxes) is being used by them (in the form of gifts) to win our hearts and rule us for five years as a result. Democracy is being mocked at, meanwhile there are parties happening in Tamil Nadu, courtesy some other parties (read political parties)!
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