Flourishing retail corruption

K. Subrahmanyam argues:

• It is undeniable that the Maoists prevent developmental benefits from reaching the population in their areas and extort money from traders and contractors. The local population is forced to choose between the state authorities and the Maoists as different confrontation situations develop. They must be expected to align with those whose harassment and extortion are less and who are more likely to be effectively present in their midst. It is generally believed that there is widespread corruption in recruiting the police constables and lower-level administrative staff. Consequently those recruited to various state agencies by paying their way in are likely to have an ingrained administrative culture that does not differentiate corruption and harassment from the normal discharge of their duties. This is one of the basic aspects of the present day misgovernance at various levels of the administrative machinery in contact with the public, especially in the rural areas.

• However, the home ministry concedes the core objective of the Maoists is not merely to subvert law and order in these tribal areas in these states, but to wage war against the Indian Republic and Indian Constitution. Under these circumstances will not this be a case where Article 355 of the Constitution needs to be invoked? Article 355 lays down, “It shall be the duty of the Union to protect every state against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the government of every state is carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.”