It is an irony of sorts that Bangaru Laxman should turn into a symbol of corruption in this country. And that he, of all the high flying politicians who are corrupt to the core, should receive punishment for the malaise that is so deeply entrenched into our political system.
Bangaru Laxman hails from an economically and socially backward class. He is naturally an easy prey to temptations. Probably, he never imagined he would be the president of a national party. No wonder, he was prevailed upon to accept Rs 1 lakh, a pittance by any standards. The big guys would not have stooped down to such cheap amounts.
A lot of discussion happened on whether luring a person into the trap is a good way of judging him. Many argued a person’s virtue is revealed in all its glory only when it is tested.
We are living in a world now where we don’t need such fake transactions to tell us that politicians are dealing in amounts several hundred times bigger than what Laxman was convicted for.
They will never be caught by the likes of Tehelka, because these guys are too clever to get themselves into such pitiable situations. We know in our state of some politicians striking a gold mine the last 6-8 years. No Tehelka seems to have ever attempted to go near them. Or did they fail?
Compared to these stinkingly rich politicians who amassed wealth as if there was no tomorrow, Bangaru Laxman looks like a saint. The man was hounded for almost 11 years till today when he was finally convicted. He carried the stigma of corruption all these years, like Christ who carried the sins of others on his shoulders.
And to think that this one lakh rupees made no difference to his material life, while it destroyed his social and political life is saddening.
The law might have taken its course, but did he deserve this much of punishment?
