Lok Satta Party President Dr N Jayaprakash Narayan has built an image of intellectual politician around himself.
He wants the people to look up to him as an out-of-the-box thinker who is always politically correct and is never corruptible.
However, behind the veneer of this intellectualism, there appears to be a clearly biased mind which opts for selective application of political morals and ethics.
Otherwise, how else can one explain his prescription that the disproportionate assets case against YSR Congress Party President Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy should be treated on par with the gruesome Nirbhaya case?
Does it not reflect convoluted mind to compare the Delhi gangrape murder case to a largely politically-driven assets case against a leading politician?
By making such statements, Dr Narayan will face the risk of losing the public credibility and respect.
The question being asked in political circles is if he is co concerned about the legalities and political corruption, why was he silent when CBI resorted to delaying tactics just to keep Jagan in jail?
Why didn't enlighten the people about the rule that an accused should be released on bail after 90 days of his arrest? This selective application of political ethics and rules will do no good to the image of Dr Narayan.
Drawing a parallel between Jagan's case and Nirbhaya's case, he demanded constitution of special courts to go into corruption cases against key persons in Governments both in the State and at the Center and awarding of deterrent punishment to the guilty.
"There comes a defining moment in a nation's history when a policy like zero tolerance for corruption can be eloquently demonstrated by convicting a dozen prominent persons facing serious corruption charges and confiscating their properties will send the right signal to the country," he said.
However, the political observers are surprised that Dr JP never made any statement when corruption charges are raised against the former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and the quid pro quo charges against his regime.
Dr JP said that competent special prosecutors should be appointed and judges should hear cases on a day to day basis to ensure swift justice.
A law also should be enacted to facilitate attachment of properties of corrupt politicians and officials.
The need of the hour is restoring people's confidence in institutions. He recalled that the Lok Satta had drafted a Bill to eradicate corruption and circulated it among all people who matter at the national and State levels.
He had suggested grant of autonomy and adequate resources to the CBI and ACBs, constitution of special courts, appointment of independent prosecutors, institution of a powerful Lokpal and Lokayuktas, swift and deterrent punishment of the guilty and confiscation of properties of the corrupt.
