“Politics is a dirty thing and all politicians are dirty or corrupt”, This line was used for almost everyone after 1990’s when lot of scams started tumbling out with no party being able to form government at the centre and UPA from 2004-14 is a recent example of corrupt politics at large. We also had people like Shri L.K. Advani who resigned from central government till the charges were proven to be false. But lot of people still believe that most politicians are same from all parties and they don’t fight for the ideology they represent, which is true to an extent.
There was one such incident which I remember happened in Jaipur in 2013. There was a tobacco factory in Burmese colony of Jaipur, Rajasthan. That factory used to produce famous Ankur Ghutka and pan masala. Those from north-India will know that it’s a famous Ghutka brand. People of the colony were trying to get the factory closed for some years but due to deep pockets of the owner, they were unable to. They decided to unite their efforts to close down the factory and letters were sent to all the important departments of the government of Rajasthan on behalf of the colony and not individuals.
The MLA of the area, Shri Ashok Parnami (Party-BJP) came and gave assurance that the factory will be closed. The people of the colony also went to meet the then Mayor of Jaipur, Smt. Jyoti Khandelwal (Party-Congress) who also gave same assurance. But after some time when nothing happened.. it was learnt that Khandelwal said that since the owner of the factory is also Khandelwal. They can’t do much about it as it might irk the Khandelwal community. Same way Ashok Parnami also said much can’t be done on this. One thing is important to note that during that time BJP was not in power but it was Congress government in state.
But both Cong-BJP people said nothing can’t be done, probably both might have gotten party donations from the owner of the tobacco factory. Finally people wrote a letter to ED with rtd. HC judges and got help from them which paved the way to remove that factory. In the ongoing process, Congress’s Mahila Morcha state level official who also resides in the colony also joined BJP since she saw BJP as the rising party. Ashok Parnami later gave financial help by getting the husband of the said official a liquor shop. Unfortunately Ashok Parnami was made BJP state head by Raje the CM of Rajasthan in 2014. Also the taxes on tobacco & Pan Masala products were also reduced by the BJP government in 2015 which was spearheaded by Ashok Parnami.
Modi may not take bribe but not everyone in BJP is like that. People of India have voted for Modi in 2014 and not for BJP. BJP of ABV-LKA era was also corrupt and still has same corrupt practices as those of Cong at state level. One of the reasons why BJP lost Delhi elections was the corrupt practices of BJP Delhi unit. AAP by all means was a new comer and hence seen as clean but they are also indulging in corrupt & low-level politics with new scams coming in light every day. Many people have voted for BJP due to their ideology and some due to RSS. But I am sure no would like to support a party which still can’t get rid of corrupt practices at state or Parishad levels. I hope people are not led down by Modi in the fight against corruption at state or city level and people who have the merit and clean image are given preference.
P.S: The above information comes from the residents of the colony who have talked about it. There were also articles about the same in 2013 local newspapers which are now unavailable online.
