If the context hadn't been so stark we would have found this question more perplexing: which part of our country has the most Godmen per square mile? It is, indeed, an unusual suspect, Punjab and Haryana. This region is known for much else in our country but not really for such a preponderance of religion, spirituality and self-styled godmen.

Not all are crooks. Some have evolved their own spiritual philosophies, stayed within the law and also done philanthropy and public service. Most of the rest are essentially land-grabbing political fixers, power-brokers and shady ...