India Today Year of Chaos [Politics]

January 5, 1998

IMAGES: POLITICS
Year of Chaos

In India's 50th year of freedom, a horrified nation watched the televised subversion of democracy as their representatives ran amok in the Uttar Pradesh legislature. As politicians hammered away at the edifice of good administration, some met their nemesis in unyielding officers: backed by the law, they moved swiftly -- sometimes too swiftly -- in naming politicians in numerous scams. Investigators like CBI chief Joginder Singh paid for overzealousness with their jobs; others like Justice M.C. Jain simply lost their credibility.

."I hope I don't live to
see the day when
criminals take over
the reins of
power in Delhi."

--I K Gujral,
Prime Minister

U N Biswas Pic: Soumitra Ghosh

Steadfast: The CBI's U N Biswas showed Laloo Yadav the stick.

U P Assembly Pic: Sharad Saxena

Mayhem: Legislators--and democracy--cowered on the floor of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

M C Jain Pic: Saibal Das

Reckless: M C Jain's revelations brought down a government.