Casteism behind criminalisation and corruption in politics:Shekhawat

New Delhi, Apr 4 (UNI) Rueing widespread casteism in the nation's political system, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today said criminalisation in politics was because of casteism, which was the root cause of all evils plaguing the country.

The three evils of casteism, criminalisation and corruption were interlinked, and the mother of all evils plaguing our political system was casteism, said Mr Shekhawat while releasing 'Indian Media: Illusions and Reality' published by Prem Bhatia Trust.

''We need to rid ourselves and our political system of the tyranny of casteism if we have to come out of the muck and anomalies dogging us, as it is because of this that criminals have come in politics and which ultimately has led to the seeping-in of widespread corruption into the system,'' he said.

And this routine of elections being held every year needed to be done away with if probity in public life had to be brought. ''Unless simultaneous elections are held democracy would not be strenghtened.'' The cost of elections has increased manifold over the years and this ritual being thrust on us every year was not a healthy sign of a flourishing democracy, he opined.

On the falling standards in journalism, the Vice-President said the touchstone should be whether the end result of what was being aimed at was ultimately achieved or not. ''The aim of reporting should be this.'' ''Though the scope of the media has enlarged over the years and its freedom ensured, its authenticity and content value are being questioned. Earlier, whatever newspapers said was taken to be the benchmark, but this cannot be said anymore,'' added.

This is because of market forces having taken the better of it, which needed to be pondered over, Mr Shekhawat said.

The Vice-President also advocated for a two-child norm, which he said would help in bringing the nation's development on the fast-track.

The book, a compilation of essays, while probing the social and civic conscience of the 'media' focusses on the decline of the 'press' as a public forum.

UNI AN PA HT2015