Look who the CM defends

He was arrested on Sunday, on charges of murder, conspiracy, tampering with evidence and fabricating evidence to mislead investigators in th...

He was arrested on Sunday, on charges of murder, conspiracy, tampering with evidence and fabricating evidence to mislead investigators in the Madhumita Shukla case. He was hailed on Monday by the chief minister as the saviour of Uttar Pradesh, of the country even. Irrespective of the action the CBI or the court takes against Amarmani Tripathi, Mulayam Singh Yadav has pledged that the Samajwadi Party will not take action against him. So which is the real Amarmani Tripathi? And where lies the truth in UP? Is it possible that it is, even at this moment, cosying up to the former minister who stands plum at the centre of the state8217;s latest sordid whodunit? Who, in another time, was dismissed from another government for his involvement in a kidnapping case. And who has achieved the incomparable feat of having first Mayawati defend him, until media and political pressure became too much to bear and she had to ask him to step down. And then have his new mentor Mulayam Singh Yadav champion him just as staunchly, no matter what.

In Uttar Pradesh, it would seem, politicians, especially those in power, inhabit a parallel universe undisturbed by the rule of law and the norms of public behaviour that come with it. So a young poet can be murdered in her home in Lucknow and the needle of suspicion can point fixedly in the direction of the minister of state and yet the chief minister can resist instituting a fair probe. A crucial piece of evidence seized by the police can end up in the possession of the said minister. The investigators can set their own unhurried pace and the minister can avoid being questioned for the longest time. Canards can be floated about the victim of the crime 8212; her other liaisons, a secret marriage. Then, the tainted former minister can jump ship and hop on board the new regime in UP. To play flamboyant kingmaker along with a cast of similar notables, including one Raja Bhaiyya. So that when the CBI finally takes him away, kicking and complaining about a conspiratorial trial by media, the new chief minister puts up a touching defence. And so what if the law is yet to fully take its course?

This is UP. And it remains the same, be it Mayawati who is in power, or Mulayam Singh. Or the BJP or Congress, for that matter. Crime is just a hyphen away from politics. Scandals come and go.