Money power huge threat to democracy: Guv

Influence of money power has been the potent threat to democracy in the country, said the Governor H R Bhardwaj on Wednesday.

“MLAs are spending about Rs 25 crore for elections in Karnataka. Where is the money coming from? It is directly from corruption. Similar is the situation in the parliamentary elections. The need of the hour is to eradicate the influence of money,” Bhardwaj said while speaking at a discussion on ‘Challenges before Indian Democracy.’

The programme was organised to mark the 86th birth anniversary of former chief minister late Ramakrishna Hegde. The governor said corporate sector, with its huge profits, had been injecting money into the system.

Bhardwaj said he felt ashamed when he comes face to face with freedom fighter like H S Doreswamy for being helpless over the delay in appointing Lokayukta in the State.
The government has not taken any action despite bringing the matter to the notice repeatedly, he said.

Former minister Prof B K Chandrashekar advocated the need for stability in coalition government. He said a law should be formulated ruling out post-poll alliances to form coalition governments. The like-minded parties should announce their common minimum programme to people before the elections, he said.

Prof Baraguru Ramachandrappa said opportunistic politics and politics without morality were the two biggest ills of democracy. Leaders in the past always used to be among people. Ramakrishna Hegde was one among them. “But now-a-days it is fashionable for leaders to frequent temples and jails,” he lamented.