Societal intervention vital

Moral values in politics have been on the decline for at least the last three decades, but the recent decay has been shocking. This cannot be resolved or addressed by either capitalist or socialist ideologies. What has been most dangerous is the aversion of the political system to discourage such elements or trends. None can deny that today society is facing the challenge of inequality and political degradation in moral values. It is being threatened by divisive forces. It is a bare fact that these problems and challenges can be countered only through societal intervention, which in present times is absolutely lacking. The political decline, which India is witnessing of late in real terms, emanates out of political apathy. People are gradually losing trust and faith in the political system and institution. A sense of aversion towards politics is overtaking the psyche of the common people. It is only the vested interests or the crooked that benefit from the existing political system. The recent past saw big corruption by the high and mighty, be it politics or the corporate world. There is a notion that law cannot touch the high and mighty. Politics became identified with corruption, conspiracy, and lack of principles. The fact is the political culture has completely degenerated. Politics has become a power-grabbing game. The conscience that guides individual behavior is no longer concerned with moral conduct and blurs the distinction between right and wrong. This is the gift of the crony capital that rules common man’s life following reforms and liberalisation. Earlier, people used to talk of conscience but in modern days it is a utopian concept and object. Family and social bonds are getting weaker. Earlier there was moral order in everyday life, which began at home and spread to the outside community. But it is no more. In a free society, the relationship between the individual and the state is simple. The task is not to reinvent government or to give politics meaning; the task is to limit government and revitalize civil society. The best government is that which governs”. In India, it is an alien concept. The task of the government is now not to administer justice, not to protect equal rights of the citizen, and not to preserve the social order. In modern India, freedom has come to mean freedom from responsibility. It is nothing but a form of tyranny, which creates moral and social chaos.