Claiming Moral High Ground

Claiming Moral High Ground

A Tamil proverb states, “The frog will get caught by its own mouth.” This adage was exemplified by E.V.S. Ilangovan, the then Tamil Nadu Congress President, during his address at the 46th anniversary celebration of Thuglak by Sri. Cho. Ramaswami in Chennai in January 2016.

In his speech addressing the serious issue of vote-buying, Ilangovan acknowledged Cho’s qualifications to speak against the practice. He expressed:

“Remaining as a full-time politician, whether I can accomplish this is very doubtful. But you (Cho) can, as you are apolitical… I strongly feel that morality should be upheld in politics, and money should not be used. I am deeply concerned about this and urge you to take steps to stop this menace…” (*Thuglak*, Tamil Weekly, vol. XLVII no. 6, 24-2-16, p. 20)

However, Ilangovan overlooked the fact that his own party, the Congress, has been implicated in the very issue he criticized. The Congress has been historically linked with the practice of vote-buying, and such moral stances can appear disingenuous when coming from those with a questionable track record.

Sri. Ramaswami responded pointedly:

“This trend of giving money for votes did not start recently. It began on a small scale with the Congress, which used to give Rs. Five and ten for votes. While the Congress played a pioneering role in India’s independence, democracy, and parliamentary system, it also introduced practices like vote-buying. Initiated by Y.S. Reddy in Andhra Pradesh under Congress, this practice has now spread to Tamil Nadu. It is ironic that you (Congress), who guided others in this trend, now seek to abolish it.”

Sri. Ramaswami, known for his political satire and impartial critique, although with a noted bias towards the BJP and Modi, highlighted the hypocrisy of Ilangovan’s position. His public rebuke serves as a cautionary tale for politicians about the perils of adopting a high moral stance when their party’s history contradicts it. Politicians often face skepticism regarding their personal ethics and political morality. Given the widespread unethical practices in politics, it is advisable for politicians to refrain from claiming moral superiority publicly unless their actions align with their statements. Otherwise, they risk being “caught by their own mouth,” like the proverbial frog.

21-2-16