I was determined to clear the Augean stable

Claptrap of the politician: Violations Of Civic And Environmental Laws By Jagmohan The Statesman Wednesday, July 26 2006

And why was my portfolio suddenly changed when it became clear that I was determined, while functioning as Urban Development Minister in 2000, to clear the Augean stable, enforce the rule of law and break the unholy alliances amongst various vested interests? And how was it that, after virtual stoppage of illegal constructions during the period of my drive, 18000 new illegal constructions came up soon after my removal from the scene? The new law subverts truth, panders to the wishes of the corrupt and crafty groups and fatally injures whatever little dispositions remain in the society to be honest and law abiding.

This reminds me of what Sri Aurobindo wrote about a typical politician: “He does not represent the soul of a people or its aspirations. What he does usually represent is all the average pettiness, selfishness, egoism, self-deception that is about him, and these he represents well enough, as well as a great deal of mental incompetence and moral conventionality, timidity and pretence. Great issues often come to him for decision, but he does not deal with them greatly; high words and noble ideas are on his lips, but they become rapidly the claptrap of a party.”

What verdict the Supreme Court would finally pronounce on the new law has yet to be seen. But it is clear that the diseased and disastrous values, which our democratic leaders, through democratic process, are breeding, have already gained the upper hand.