It is all very well for the opposition parties to demand that the Modi Government abide by the Constitution, but what happens in the states that they control? The most recent example of their duplicity is the manner in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee carried out a Trump like extraction from the site of an ED raid in Kolkata. The incident lays bare the sense of entitlement that exists in India’s political class – the rules for them and the common person are apparently different.
India is repeatedly being shown how the system allows such transgressions of the law. How could the ED officials be intimidated into allowing Mamata Banerjee entry during their inspection of a premises? It is clear dereliction of duty. And, if officials of the West Bengal government assisted her in the process, they too are guilty of the same thing. They are all supposed to know that they owe allegiance to the constitution of India and should be able to make the distinction between lawful and unlawful conduct.
A very strong reason why there is such contempt for the law among the influential and the powerful is that they know, if the matter is taken to the courts, it will be many years before there is a verdict. Just consider how the land for jobs case against Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi has lingered on and will continue to do so. There are many such cases that politicians face, be it from the ruling NDA or the opposition, which remain pending and embolden them to continue to challenge the system.
What action would be taken against a person who barges into an ED investigation site and removes evidence? Will the same happen with Mamata Banerjee? West Bengal has for long been descending into downright lawlessness, but no action has been taken by the Centre. Prime Minister Modi perhaps believes that the general public will take cognizance of the matter and deliver an electoral verdict against the ruling TMC, but is that possible when the law can be so blatantly violated in the state? Although Modi during his tenure has been hesitant to impose President’ Rule, West Bengal is a fit case for the same. If assembly elections are held with TMC in power, the people’s mandate will be similarly hijacked as was evidence from the IPAC office that ED raided.
