I am bemused by varieties of reaction to the cash in the Parliament episode. I am not shocked. I am told by the media that this has happened before in our parliament many years ago. The Speaker then, Late Balaram Jhakhar, didn’t allow the display of cash and had carried on the proceedings. Appropriate action was taken against the MPs involved.

‘Horse-trading’ is an old coinage and happens in many other countries as well. Politics in any corner of the globe is not immune to such instances. Money rules the roost in politics. Corporate houses which have the biggest stake in politics are known to fund political parties, sponsor campaigns and help politicians in their moves.

Countries like Italy, Brazil see the coalitions fall apart and new elections more frequently than us. They have their own set of mafia, politicians, corporate houses and rules of the game. It’s true in many other countries as well. Many a dictator regimes get financial backing from various stakeholders from other countries.

Politics is all about dealings, over the table and under the table. War is a big business. It is the sad truth of modern politics all over the globe. What is perhaps disappointing is the pretention that political leaders worry about inflations, poor man on the street, health care and national interests.

We are wrong is placing our politicians in any altar of ideals. They run the show for us and exploit our weaknesses. We need to stand up and demand our rights. We need to condemn wars and their policies which are hindrance to basic human rights. Maybe they are a bunch of powerful, corrupt and greedy kind. But we are a sea of humanity.