Chidambaram, victim or guilty?

It is widely made known that Karti Chidambaram has amassed assets in many countries misusing his father's ministership. This is vehemently denied by both father and son. They have gone to the extent of expressing their readiness to gift their undisclosed assets if any to the government.

CBI  therefore needs to expedite its trials and favour the public with a conclusion to this political histrionics. The corrupt need to be exposed and legally punished. It is equally important that the innocent are not harassed. The public should not be harassed by keeping the pot boiling indefinitely.

BJP is steadily losing its popularity as it is unable to fulfill its plentiful promises. Unemployment problems are intensifying. The opposition despite its lack of unity must be relishing the opportunity arising from BJP's incapacity to be equal to the promises it has made.

Chidambarams in the dock

BJP has sounded the political bugle for the 2019 general elections. Chidambarams and Lalus are easy targets to ignite people's misgivings about UPA.

It is not unusual for sons to tarnish the image of their father. This is exactly what Karti Chidambaram has been doing for a long time. If Modi's government has not taken punitive action against Karthi for three long years, there must be some deliberate purpose behind this. The government is interested not in punishing the culprits but only wants to utilise the shenanigans of these culprits to shower electoral advantage on BJP.

This may be good politics. But it is bad governance. It is an open secret that Karti Chidambaram was a power-broker when his father was the Finance Minister. Chidambaram should not have allowed his fatherly affection to blind his eyes to his son's activities.

Entitled politicians

One former Finance Minister's wife and son were summoned by investigative agencies to obtain details about some alleged criminality. Both of them have refused to visit the investigators' office and are quoting laws as to why they cannot be summoned. The lady says that being one, she can be questioned only in her house. The son says that unless he is told the subject of investigation, he will not appear.

These arguments may be technically correct. But, do they try to ensure that others are also provided similar rights? The New Indian Express has published a series of articles referring to the alleged misdemeanours of the peripatetic son.

The present government makes noise about the scams of earlier government whenever it suits them, but does not take effective steps for prosecution and punishment. It is difficult not to entertain the thought that BJP and the Congress have an implicit understanding to keep barking and avoid biting. This is not in national interest.