May be it's the concept of 'Bharatiya Nari' that often stops us from associating women to burning issues like corruption. May be its ironical to boast of the fact that we still stick on to such a value system today. However, it's those male figures, as always, figure out mostly when we say corruption and the public anger is mechanically directed towards our male netas. Contrary to the common belief, women in power could never make any significant change. Right from the era of tyrannical Indira Gandhi who was accused of electoral corruption, to the modern women politicians, there are many carrying the bundle of corruption on them.
She flies a private jet to Mumbai when she needs sandals. The rich and famous, Mayawati is undoubtedly the most controversial women in Indian politics. She has been charged in a series of cases including disproportionate assets and Taj Corridor case etc.
The self-proclaimed face of the poorest of the state's poor Dalits who came to power on the call of 'sarvajan hitaye' (for the benefit of all) has always getting richer and richer. Her net worth in 2010 was at 87 crore, an increase of at least Rs 35 crore in three years' time. Besides these, she owns properties in different parts of the country, the cumulative cost of which is valued around 73 crore. The Dalit queen has been fighting many legal battles over cases relating to the Taj corridor case, diamond-laden lavish birthday parties, disproportionate assets case and spend large sums of money on building statues of herself. The UP Chief Minister has been exposed by WikiLeaks to have a "penchant for corruption".
In the long legal battle, Supreme Court asked the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha to appear personally before a Karnataka trial court for a case against dealing with her disproportionate assets. There are several other cases against the actress-turned politician on charges involving embezzlement and monetary fraud. In 2011, Jayalalitha was convicted for criminal breach of trust and for illegally acquiring governmental property belonging to TANSI, a state-run agency. Later in 2003, she was acquitted in same case due to lack of evidence. Of the 11 corruption cases levied against her in period 1996-2003, she was acquitted in 9.
Rabri Devi, whose only experience was home and kitchen, was chosen to take up the post of Chief Minister of Bihar when her husband Lalu Prasad Yadav was forced to resign on corruption charges. She too also has several cases for amassing wealth disproportionate to her income. In an obvious result, she lost election for both Raghopur and Sonepur assembly seats last year.
The wide spreading corruption cancer is very much in-built in our political system regardless of the gender. The new-generation wakeup call is getting its momentum and Anna Hazare movement is the only beacon of hope. While women empowerment is a much talked about issue, it's disheartening to see that many women of whom a lot is expected, fail to deliver their promises and guards the houses of corruption.
Kanimozhi is the latest in the series of women politicians accused of corruption charges. The jailed daughter of DMK Chief M Karunanidhi has been in Tihar Prisons since May 2011 in connection with the 2G spectrum scam, in which she is alleged to be co-conspirator. Out of his three fives and six children, Kanimozhi has been the favorite child of Karunanidhi and has been the urban face of the party. Basically a poet and journalist, her political career that began in 2007 after being elected to the Rajya Sabha had taken a slow and steady course. It was, of course, a transition period from what is labeled as her father's literary legacy to his political legacy. Her political future plunged into darkness ever since the 2G scam was out to the public. CBI charge sheeted Kanimozhi in the historical corruption scandal for her role in accepting 214-crore kickback for Kalaignar TV in which she owns a 20 percent stake. She was arrested and sent to jail on 20 May, 2011 after her bail plea was rejected
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