Former Judge Santosh Hegde criticizes Congress over Bihar loss, highlights endemic corruption in India
Mandya: Former Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde has expressed sharp criticism of the Congress party, alleging that the party anticipated defeat in Bihar and allegedly began claiming “vote theft” as an excuse.
Speaking to the media in Mandya, Hegde stated that “vote theft is not as easy as it is made out to be” and emphasized that political debates alone cannot substantiate such claims. He questioned the narrative of the Congress, saying, “Was vote theft really possible in Bihar? Defeat alone explains the outcome.”
Addressing questions on corruption, Hegde remarked that corruption has been pervasive across all political tenures, citing BJP, JDS, and Congress as examples. “Corruption has been ongoing for decades and cannot be eradicated completely.
Even ancient texts mention corruption. Today, it has reached alarming levels. No country has perfect economic management, and even governments struggle to provide basic facilities,” he said. He recalled Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s 1985 remark that “from every 100 rupees, only 15 rupees reach the intended purpose due to corruption.”
Hegde criticized the cycle of accusations between parties: “If one government claims 40% corruption, another accuses it of 60%. Contractors’ associations also say today’s government is 60% corrupt. No one fears the law anymore. Even if caught, the punishment for bribery from the Supreme Court is 25 to 30 years, yet fear of law is minimal,” he added.
On controlling corruption, Hegde advised fostering personal integrity and pursuing higher education and public service positions. “People buy positions and misuse power. In my school days, petrol was 12 rupees per litre; today it is 105 rupees.
What development has come of this? Awareness must begin in schools. Real change can come only through children, not revolutions. Let us bring change peacefully,” he said, adding that discussing the Lokayukta could have multiple interpretations.
Hegde also linked poor road conditions to corruption, noting that bribes for road contracts often leave insufficient funds for proper work. “Some projects are executed unscientifically. No one takes responsibility. Corruption does not lead to real development,” he concluded.
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