No Home Minister

An editorial entitled “Nabbing the Goondas” in the New Indian Express today brings to sharp focus the peculiarly Indian phenomenon thoughtful social scientists call “the criminalization of (democratic) politics and the politicization of crime.”

The goonda-mafia gangs that run illegal businesses with political as well as police support (politicians control the police) are proof. The editorial speaks of:

“… close links that have developed between sections of the political class and the hoods. The matter has been complicated by the less than exemplary role of the police, who are evidently asked to leave the goons alone since they often serve the partisan objectives of the politicians. Nothing demonstrates the corrosive effect of this unholy politician- bureaucrat-criminal nexus more than the fact that nearly one-fourth of the Lok Sabha MPs have an unsavoury background. The situation is even more alarming where the MLAs are concerned.”

The Rot Runs Deep.

And there is only one solution: Liberty Under Law.

All economic activities that are today occurring in the black market will then transpire in the open market.

Take Gillette razors, for example. Not long ago, you got them from a smuggler. Today every small shop is selling them. Millions of open market jobs have been created.

Now imagine that for everything that man-made “democratic” legislation (which is NOT The Law) has pushed into the hands of mafia gangs today.

This is the best way to cleanse the system.

And also provide a huge economic stimulus. Recall Say’s Law: The sale of X gives rise to the demand for all non-X. When fine Manipuri ganja duly certified by the Manipuri Ganja Farmers’ Association (soon to be set up – so keep the donations flowing:-) is openly sold, all these farmers would possess the means to buy big SUVs, plasma TVs, and all the mod-cons. Ditto for the belly dancer. Or the bookie.

Note that these corrupt politicians and their cronies, the ganglords, drive the SUVs today. They own the plasma TVs.

I therefore find home minister P Chidambaram’s directive to all state governments to crack down on goondas insincere. It is just words. An exchange of letters from On High. The editorial says:

“The union home minister has spelt out the laws under which these anti-social elements should be tackled. These include the National Security Act, the Goonda Act and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. But few are unaware of the fact that it isn’t the dearth of laws which prevents firm action, but the lack of political will.”

We could add the Narcotics Act, The Immoral Traffic Act, the Gambling Act, the Gun control laws… ad infinitum.

It is time to realize that man-made legislation has to be rejected for The Law – that is, the “private law” world of property, contracts and torts. And our The State has to be placed Under this law. Today, with the “sovereignty of parliament,” our The State is above The Law.

Note that the common law dates back to the eleventh century – and even earlier, to the laws of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. There were no parliaments then to “make” law. And every feudal king was Under The Law: the “sovereignty of the law.” Which is why the Queen of England still does not make law. Our ideas on law must change to appreciate what true Justice is. It is only this: Liberty Under Law.

So let us all be honest businessmen. There is a certain morality in that. Let all businesses thrive in a natural order. Let enemies of that natural order be quickly identified and dealt with – the real outlaws – that too at the local level, and not from On High.

There would be nothing left to govern.

No home minister.

Everyone would be busy “minding his own business.”

What about me? I will run The Honourable Bhola Unlimited Company Ltd., makers of Bhola Spliffs, Ganesh ka baap ka bidi!

Ha ha.