Politicians illegally pilfering public money may not be new, but an incident of such magnitude does give a jolt. It therefore, requires to be exemplified and there is an urgent need on the part of the President and the Supreme court to met out harsh punishment to do so. Even though alliance politics has led the national party to take a certain position on such matters, an incident of this magnitude should not be let go scott free.

 

The president, in consultation with chief justice and Dr Manmohan Singh, should evolve effective way by which persons acquiring wealth disproportionate to their income, or involved in certain crimes, may not be allowed to remain in politics or to hold any constitutional or other government-posts. Year wise details of assets and wealth of elected representatives and their relations should be compulsorily put on the websites of the parliament and state legislatures.

 

The punishment in such a case, should not be one taken simply from the Indian Penal Code. Instead, it should be decided in accordance with the public money that has been swindled. For example, exposure of disproportionate assets worth more than say Rs 500 crores, may attract even death-penalty, because such accumulation of wealth by corrupt means is responsible for deaths and suicides giving life due to non-availability of funds which otherwise are grabbed by corrupt ones in system.