[Letters] A hard-to-die practice of lawmakers

In your March 23 editorial ‘The politics of money’, you have taken a specific issue of lawmakers’ efforts to fill their bankbooks by various lawful and not so legal means, but it is a representative example of the behavior of lawmakers’ the world over. As an Indian, I thought you were talking about Indian politicians, who are not only infamous for their corrupt practices in making money by illegal means but also shamelessly increasing their salaries and allowances many times in their terms.

Nowhere in the world is one allowed to take decisions about ones’ salary or perk increase. If it is allowed then the sky will be the limit. But our politicians, who are expected to show exemplary examples of honesty, modesty and simplicity in deeds to citizens, are the ones who flout them with utmost vengeance.

Like for the last sixty years of democratic system, we in India have been replacing one with other in elections but the menace continues. But politicians of every kind, once in power start behaving the same way. There is a political class in the making who have a perfect understanding among themselves and people are at a loss how to change them all! The recent revolts against the all powerful is but one indication of the things to come.

*Letters and commentaries for publication should be addressed “Letters to the Editor.” E-mailed letters should be sent to eopinion@joongang.co.kr.

Dr. Karan Singh Chauhan, visiting professor, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies