Liberal political commentators, trolled as “sickulars” or “libtards” by the strident right wingers, have had a constant gripe ever since Narendra Modi rode to power three years back. According to them, something changed in Indian politics post-2014. Their aversion to the rise of the vociferous right wing apart, these analysts point at growing social intolerance and a politics of vendetta which, they allege, have found roots across the country after the BJP-led NDA staged a comeback.
Unlike the politically-charged northern and western belts of India where it has played out, Odisha remained more or less immune to this brand of politics. The self-appointed “Gau Rakshaks” have not gone on the rampage here, nor has anyone’s “nationalism” been questioned. Though this may have a lot to do with the genial ways of Odias and socio-political philosophy in this part of the country, it was a departure from the rest.
Of late Odisha seems to have fallen to the trappings of a new wave of politics where everything is fair but means do not necessarily justify the end. In a State where politics has been historically dignified this has come as a first. And BJP seems to have fired the first salvo.
The manner in which the CBI went about raiding the premises of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders earlier in January raised eyebrows because it seemed more of an act of political interest than a routine investigation. Why would the premier agency, which is investigating into the multi-thousand crore Ponzi scam since 2013, conduct raids on politicians belonging to BJD a good two years after they were brought in under its scanner! Inexplicable as the CBI raids were, there has been no credible follow-up by the agency against those being investigated. If the CBI had incriminating evidence against those BJD bigwigs involved in the Ponzi scam what was it doing all these days?
Not long ago, the central agency’s tardy investigation into the scam, in which thousands lost their hard-earned savings, was questioned by one and all and even the State leadership of BJP voiced its concern saying it sent a wrong signal about the national party’s stand on the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD in the State. But the truth was the Narendra Modi government had gone soft against the BJD because of political compulsions. The weak numbers of NDA in the Rajya Sabha meant Modi needed Naveen for crucial legislations and the latter did not disappoint for obvious reasons. Even through the controversial process of demonetisation of currencies which shook the whole country, the Odisha CM stood by the Centre.
Now what spurred the sudden burst of energy by CBI or for that matter other agencies like Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to go after the Ponzi scam suspects? Many believe it is the panchayat polls where a resurgent BJP is eyeing to make the cut ahead of the 2019 General Elections.
But BJD was not targetted in isolation. In the neighbouring West Bengal, the CBI sat pretty over investigation of Saradha Group and Rose Valley Group which were part of the multi-thousand score Ponzi scam. With Trinamool Congress going hard against demonetisation, the CBI swung into action and arrested two of its MPs — Tapas Paul and Sudipto Bandyopadhyay. Mamata has cried foul too.
If BJP can do it, can BJD be left behind? The ruling party which slammed BJP for its “vendetta politics” did exactly the same as its Vigilance Wing went after LPG agencies for illegal practices and booked Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s elder brother Soumendra Pradhan.
With inadequate man-power and massive pendency of cases, the anti-corruption wing of the State government could have done without this exercise which was, primarily, the domain of Civil Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department.
But an eye had to be taken for an eye. After being raided, the ruling party also sent its supporters to agitate before the CBI office, something it had stayed clear of when two lawmakers Rama Chandra Hansda and Pravat Tripathy were arrested two years back.
With the elections drawing closer and knives out, the two political parties are not willing to hold anything back even if it means using their institutions. The only sane piece of advise, incidentally, came from the BJP camp when senior leader Bijoy Mohapatra who not only raised questions about the timing of these raids but also said: “Government agencies should not be used as weapon in vendetta politics.”
Srimoy Kar
Resident Editor, Odisha
Email: srimoy@newindianexpress.com