A strong system supported by disciplined people can correct things even if prominent people in public life fail to uphold values. In contrast, things are bound to deteriorate under a weak system. When people cooperate with the system, they expect those operating it to reciprocate. At the end of the day, the moral attitude of public representatives influences society much as well as decency and decorum of the Houses they represent.
Legislators’ behavior, both within and without the Houses they represent, is under watch. Likewise, police personnel bring disrespect to their department by distancing themselves from people by default or deceit.The recent episodes relating to MLC Ananta Babu (East Godavari district) and MP Gorantla Madhav (Hindupur), both belonging to the ruling YSR Congress Party, are cases in point. Anantha Babu got involved in a murder case in which the body of a dalit car driver was laid at the door of his house at midnight, after which a cock and bull story was spread to hoodwink the family members.The reported reason for the murder was nonpayment of a loan of Rs 20,000 that the victim had taken from the MLC.
Anantha Babu is a highly influential political figure at the district level. Although he is currently in jail and trying hard to obtain bail, no charge-sheet has been filed by the police in this murder case so far.The Police Department appears to be buying time, instead of filing a charge-sheet within the stipulated time frame of 90 days.This has created an impression among the public that the MLC might be granted bail due to non-filing of a charge-sheet against him within the stipulated three-month period.
Strangely, the MLC attended the plenary session of his party, though he had been suspended in connection with the murder case.The family members of the dalit who lost the breadwinner allegedly due to the cruelty of the MLC may lose confidence in system should the MLC get bail.
In case of Madhav, he was purportedly found naked in a video while speaking to a woman. The clip negatively impacted the decency and decorum of the lower House of Parliament. Formerly Inspector of Police in Two Town PS of Anantapur city, he had incensed the general public by resorting to a brutal lathi charge on people who had queued up at ATM centre during the agonsing days following demonetization of high value notes. He managed to get ticket to contest from the Hindupur LS seat due to his social background, which has much influence on voters.The National Commission for Women has issued notices to police authorities, asking them to file a case in this regard. Women leaders of Telugu Desam Party are on a war path, demanding the resignation of the MP. In response, he has used filthy language against his detractors. The LS Speaker is yet to take a decision on him.
The political scene has become ugly also due to the use of unprintable words by legislators like Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao @Nani who has always been in the forefront of attacking political opponents with unprintable words.
Factional politics is also causing a lot of distress to people who prefer peace and tranquility for ensuring all-round development. Some of the leaders known to indulge in factional feuds want to become legislators, irrespective of the sentiments of voters. The backyard of the Police Department is not always clean.
An Inspector of Police working in Hyderabad was accused of raping a woman at gunpoint. We can imagine the sense of disgust that people would have for such an inspector.Another Inspector had turned a cottage in the temple town of Tirumala into a retreat for his ‘pleasure’ trips while on duty. For this purpose he chose a woman who had came to the police station for justice.
Will his transfer alone pacify people? Due to such instances people are bound to lose confidence in the system.It may be mentioned here that, about a quarter century ago, two IPS trainees at Sardar Patel National Police Academy at Rajendra Nagar, made news for the wrong reasons.They picked a quarrel with a cigarette seller and thrashed him for no reason.
The authorities of the Academy had tried to hush it up, but the trainees’ misdemeanor appeared in the papers the next day.The IPS trainees were spared, but the black mark reportedly affected their professional growth. We do not know whether the trainees ultimately improved their behavior towards the public!
If people are disciplined, together they can buttress the system so that it is aligned to serve the nation better, instead of providing cover for notorious netas and unscrupulous babus. #thehydnews
