Mumbai, May 9 (IANS) The Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, on Saturday said that if India truly aspires to become a “Vishwaguru” or a “Viksit Bharat”, it must first shut down what it described as a “washing machine” that sanitises the corrupt.

In an editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Thackeray camp said corruption remains the country’s biggest enemy and those who cling to power by surrounding themselves with corrupt individuals have no moral authority to lecture others on patriotism.

It warned that repeatedly diverting public attention through divisive issues such as “Love Jihad” or communal tensions whenever corruption scandals surface is dangerous for India’s future.

The editorial said that recent reports from China highlight a stark contrast in how corruption is handled. “Looking at China, one feels pity for India’s pathetic anti-corruption laws,” it said.

The editorial stated that two former Defence Ministers in China, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, were recently sentenced to death by a military court on bribery charges. Despite their proximity to President Xi Jinping and their high-ranking status, they were expelled from the Communist Party and faced ultimate accountability.

“This unprecedented action demonstrates a level of ruthlessness against corruption that is absent in India. In advanced nations like South Korea and Japan, former Prime Ministers have served prison time for similar crimes. In India, however, those involved in embezzling public funds or defaulting on massive bank loans often receive political protection or even prestigious national honours,” it alleged.

The editorial took aim at the current political landscape, specifically the Bharatiya Janata Party. While the Prime Minister slogans “Na Khaunga, Na Khane Dunga” (I will not eat, nor let others eat), critics argue that those accused of “eating” national wealth are welcomed into the party with open arms, the editorial said.

“During the assembly elections, the BJP labelled Mamata Banerjee’s government as corrupt. Yet, Suvendu Adhikari — whom the BJP once featured in a video allegedly accepting a bribe — was brought into the party and elevated to a leadership role. Similar patterns are noted in Maharashtra, where investigative agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) were allegedly used to pressure leaders from the Shiv Sena and NCP into joining the BJP to form a government. AAP MP Ashok Mittal joined the BJP within 24 hours of ED raids on his institutions,” claimed the Thackeray camp.

“How can the corrupt be punished when the entire ‘mountain of corruption’ in the country is supported by the BJP?” asked the editorial.

The editorial further highlighted concerns regarding the “PM Cares Fund”. Described as a private fund containing thousands of crores, it remains exempt from Right to Information (RTI) queries. This lack of transparency, combined with reports that companies under investigation by the ED are major donors to the BJP’s election funds, suggests a deep-rooted systemic issue and corruption is indeed brewing there, said the editorial.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena argued that ultimately, if India is to progress, the cycle of “cleansing” corrupt politicians through political shifts must end. If China can execute its former ministers for betrayal of public trust, India must, at the very least, “hang” the metaphorical “washing machine” that protects the corrupt.

–IANS

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