A matter of propriety

The oldest democratic sentiment to prevail was the principle of “no taxation without responsibility.” The kings could not tax or spend as per their whims. It seems that those in power in Punjab easily succumb to the temptation to treat the taxpayers’ funds as if it were theirs to give away. This affliction has, of late, become so blatant and widespread that there is a need to call out the most egregious violators of public norms. In Punjab, the government has organised Sangat Darshan programmes wherein the Chief Minister meets people and distributes largesse in a manner that is more in consonance with feudalism than a modern democracy. The frequency of such Sangat Darshan programmes has increased dramatically, especially in key constituencies, as the state prepares for the polls. The contention that ruling party supporters are singled out for favours is too widespread to be ignored. The manner in which public funds are disbursed through this programme ensures that they do not get audited. This mocks the very idea of principled governance.

By no means are the Badals alone in such abuse of public money. In Rajasthan, the then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot went on a distribution drive giving away free medicines and diagnostics just before elections; in UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav too has been on a spending spree... the list can go on. Even infrastructure projects are timed according to the election cycle. There has been an inauguration spree of memorials and suchlike in Punjab, while in UP it was a highway. 

The Election Commission too needs to look into the wilful violation of the spirit of the code of conduct that we see just before it is imposed in states that are going to the polls. It is, of course, clear that even the best of the norms and laws fail when people at the helm of affairs fail in their basic duty of being true to their conscience. It is here that the responsibility falls on the voters to ensure that they ignore blandishments and select the best candidate on the ballot paper at the only time they get to have a say in the political system of the nation.