RTI: Good for others, not me!

Poonam I Kaushish
How much rent does Congress pay for its sprawling office in Lutyens’ Delhi? Who are the people who contribute to BJP’s coffers? How much money does the BSP spend on Mayawati’s personal extravaganzas? What is the tax exemption the NCP has claimed? Who funds the CPM? Whose aircraft is used by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Gujarat Chief Minister Narender Modi during election campaignings?
Hurrah! Now the common man can access information on all these and much more for just Rs 10, thanks to the Central Information Commission (CIC) setting a new bench mark in political transparency recently via its landmark 54-page order stating six Parties, Congress, BJP, CPI, CPM, NCP and BSP are answerable under the Right to Information Act (RTI).
Holding that Parties not only performed public duty but were indirectly “substantially financed” by the Central or State Government. Think. Parties receive income-tax exemptions, Government bungalows, land at concessional rates in the heart of a city, free airtime on Doordarshan and All India Radio and electoral rolls. In fact, Government subsidies to the Congress and BJP alone totalled Rs. 255 crore.
Adding, the Presidents, General Secretaries of these Parties are hereby directed to designate public information officers (PIOs) and Appellate Authorities at their headquarters to put finances, voluntary contributions, including donor details, employees, office-bearers and salaries on their websites in six weeks.
Predictably all hell broke loose. Taking strong umbrage, the Government is considering an ordinance to strike down the CIC order by changing the definition of “public authority” in the Act to exempt Parties. Towards that end the Law Ministry has sent a draft ordinance to the Personnel Department to stall this arm-twisting of answering uncomfortable questions.
This is not all. More scandalous, the UPA has found extraordinary bipartisan support from other Parties who thrive on opacity. Paradoxically, when the Government is busy number-crunching to get crucial legislations passed in the forthcoming Parliament session.
Look at the double irony. The BJP which threatens to make repatriation of black money a poll issue, refused to entertain petitioner Association of Democratic Rights RTI application seeking details of its wealth and assets. The UPA which birthed the RTI Act with fanfare and lists it among its achievements today debunks the law.
Sadly, paisa phenko gaddi pakaro has become the tour de force of Parties and netas and a major fount of money-laundering and corruption. Wherein, Indian democracy is funded almost exclusively by the proceeds of corruption. According to an analysis of I-T returns filed by major Parties by civil society groups, 23 Parties, including Congress and BJP, earned Rs 4,662 crore between 2004 and 2011.
Arguably, why should anyone put his money on a politician or Party. It is surely not for the love of either, but purely as a business proposition, simply quid pro quo. The person helps a Party with funds and, in return, gets his job done. It is not for nothing that businessmen are known as ‘king-makers’ and the ‘power behind the throne’. Specially, a handful of top industrial houses which boast about their clout in the corridors of power — political insurance.
Donations for 2003-04 show how the fortunes of the ruling Party differ from the one out of power. While the Congress ‘officially’ received just Rs 2.81 crore, the BJP managed over Rs 11.69 crore. Money was paid through little-known trusts, or in some cases, directly by the business groups.
Interestingly, a cursory glance of affidavits filed with the Election Commission reveal the bizarre realities of politics. It showcases contributions from several business houses that directly benefited from the ruling Party. A metal and mineral baron who funded the BJP in 2000, became the proud owner of 51% of PSU aluminum major Balco for $121 million sparking off protests for its alleged undervaluation.
Perhaps taking a cue a steel magnate paid Rs 50 lakhs to the Congress in 2003 and within months was inducted into the Party.  However, in the 2004 Lok Sabha poll he was one of the highest donors to the BJP even though he contested on Congress ticket and won. Truly, playing both ends against the middle. Shamefully, the BJP was also funded by a Delhi-based builder, who was rewarded with highway construction contracts.
Worse, most politicians regard politics and elections as merely a process that yields public office or Governmental power. They use Parties and polls to amass wealth not only for their Parties and themselves but for future generations as well.
Like politics has become a business — like businessmen politicians balk at the idea of controls and regulations. That is why no Party, however vocal about the mater while in Opposition, has made a sincere attempt at stanching the flow of black money into the electoral arena.
Of course, Party financing is a black box. Wherein Parties have accumulated unexplained hundreds of crores of rupees and spend crore on candidates and elections, Election Commission stipulation of Rs 40 lakh per MP and Rs 16 lakh per MLA be damned.
See how BJP senior leader Gopinath Munde cocked a snook at the EC boasting that he spent Rs 8 crores to fight the Lok Sabha election in 2009. Multiplied by 10 candidates per 545 Lok Sabha constituency, it adds up to a mind-boggling Rs.44,500 crores. Are we expected to believe that Parties will now spend in white and account for it? Never. What would happen to India’s parallel economy?
Alas, with money and muscle becoming the torchbearers of Parties we need to be resolute and not allow our shameless, self-serving netas to push the country towards a feudal democracy. Political accountability is paramount. Remember, the role of a Party is to crystallize and shape political interests, compete aggressively and balance causes. The public interest lies in letting the antagonistic contest between Parties thrive
What next? Undeniably, Parties will continue to stonewall all efforts to clean up the electoral system as over 90 per cent of the money they receive and spend is “black”. One way is that donations to all Parties should be made by cheques and their accounts audited by the CAG.
The Representation of People Act needs to be amended to allow the EC to question the Parties on their expenses and take action on a Party/ candidates de-registration when any violation is found. With cost of elections escalating alongside the corrupt political gravy train, State funding is the need of the hour. Unless this is done, there is little hope of minimizing the evil influence of unaccounted money power and vested interests.
Clearly, till Parties put secrecy above accountability and make transparent the way they collect and spend money, corruption will thrive, suborn the civil service and corrode accountability in the system.
True, given that they function as private limited companies, each with its own secret war chests, we have a long way to go. Yet, by bringing Parties under the RTI the CIC has made a beginning. However, given our ‘black coal-tarred Parties, it is a moot point whether their licence for brazen electoral corruption and political ghooskhori are over?
—- INFA

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