US President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, who has been convicted of gun crimes and tax violations, exposes the hypocrisy of a political system that otherwise preaches ‘high principles’ to the rest of the world. In fact, many countries have been invaded and economically and socially crippled on the basis of charges made against their leaders of criminal behaviour. (Experts point out that the ‘indictment of the Adani Group’ in the US is similar misuse of power to intimidate a rising power.) It is no surprise that the voters in the US saw through the high moral stand taken by the Democratic Party against Donald Trump. They feel that Trump is, at least, open about his amoral transactional approach to politics, and everything else! In the US, the way has been opened for Donald Trump to not just pardon those who carried out the ‘insurrection’ on 6 January 2021 at Capitol Hill, but to also cover up his own misdeeds. A power granted to the President so that he or she can undo a possible miscarriage of justice has been blatantly misused.
Self-serving politics can be seen everywhere in the world. In India, people have seen how the laws, even the Constitution, have been twisted to further leaders’ hold on power. This is one of the primary factors for the rise in dynastic, communal and caste politics. Ideologies of the left, centre and the right have been distorted for the convenience of family and close associates regardless of merit. Every time the voters think there is a new and better alternative, they find themselves betrayed. As such, the challenge is to establish systems that will ensure such tactics do not work. In some ways, India is better placed to do so as there is division of powers between the President and the Prime Minister, providing some kind of balance. Although there have been well-known occasions when Presidents have kow-towed to the incumbent political force, there have also been times when Presidents have refused to bend. President APJ Abdul Kalam was one such example of uprightness. The same goes with Governors at the state level – Arif Mohammed Khan in Kerala has also performed excellently.
The habit of approaching every event from the point of view of political advantage is detrimental to the national cause. Atal Behari Vajpayee is revered even by those who opposed his ideology for having looked beyond partisan interests when it came to national interests. It should not be considered weakness, but an example to follow.
