“Mr Singhal, Mr Kesri and Mr Yadav deserve to be thanked for removing the ‘fig leaves’ from our politics,” wrote Dr Vishal Mangalwadi in his 1997 book India: The Grand Experiment.
Fig leaves, for Christians, signifies the hiding of shame and nakedness. Fig leaves bring our minds back to the first book of the Bible, Genesis. In Genesis, after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they covered their nakedness using fig-leaves and hid from God.
Mr Singhal was president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad party when militant Hindus demolished the Babri masjid in Ayodhya in 1992. Mr Singhal justified their crime with the claim: ‘The events of this day have demonstrated that the will of the people is above the rule of law.’
Mr Kesri was president of the Congress party when he withdrew his party from the United Front coalition, thereby bringing down the government of India in 1997. Mr Kesri’s decision was driven by party-credibility reasons: the Prime Minister (Mr Gowda) approved the investigation of about 100 Congressmen for crimes they had committed while they were in power. Mr Kesri’s decision was also driven by personal reasons: he was being investigated for (1) his party’s tax evasion during his tenure as treasurer; (2) the 1993 murder of one Dr Tarwar whose duties included “supplying women and administering ‘vitality’ injections to then 75 year old Mr Kesri.”
Mr Yadav was the Chief Minister of the state of Bihar. After extensive investigation, the Central Bureau of Investigation was ready to prosecute him and several others for swindling Bihar – one of India’s poorest states – of about USD 270 million dollars. Even Mr Yadav’s party proposed he step down to assure the investigation could proceed unhampered. Mr Yadav refused; his response was to threaten to take the battle to the streets and to create a crisis for the Central government.
“Both Mr. Kesri and Mr. Yadav are Prime Ministerial aspirants, and came close to occupying that position in April ’97. In order to prevent the investigations of their alleged crimes, Mr. Kesri was willing and Mr. Yadav threatens to pull down a Government. If one of them, or someone like them, did become PM, what would he do to a judiciary if it decided to uphold the rule of law?”
What is the rule of law? Who is sovereign? The people? The leaders? The moral law?
Dr Mahathir, speaking to Islamic teachers at a mosque last month reportedly said “it is wrong for teachers who taught Islam to teach politics.” Dr M went on to say “I know of this one so-called teacher [alluding to Nik Aziz, spiritual leader of the Islamic party, PAS] who teaches politics to his people. How does he teach? He takes a drawing paper, takes a round-shaped plate to draw a circle on the paper. And then he paints the areas outside the circle with the colour green.”
Raja Petra Kamaruddin wrote this week: “religious leaders have to still play the role of being the conscience of the government. They need to remind the political leaders about their duties and responsibilities to the people who elected them into office. And the synagogue, church, mosque or temple cannot shirk this role.”
Dr Mangalwadi wrote: “The Congress party is understandably pleased that they now have a leader who can keep them above the law.”
Barisan Nasional (BN) politicians are pleased they have leaders who keep them above the law.
Lingam has not been tried for fixing judicial appointments. The court’s were quick to hear Zambry and slow to hear Nizar on the Perak constitutional crisis. Khir Toyo, ex Chief Minister of Selangor continues to enjoy his palace. MACC, the corruption commission, gives priority to investigating non-BN elected officials. Hishammuddin supports cow-head protesters. Muhyiddin offers “wang ehsan” for votes. France will investigate submarine purchase related bribery; Malaysia will not. The Bakun documentary will not be broadcast. The courts deny Anwar access to his accuser’s statement. The Election Commission “can’t prosecute Najib for vote buying.”
The fig leaves are off, the naked thirst for power is publicly revealed. What will the religious do?
For more on Dr Mangalwadi, click here: www.RevelationMovement.com
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
