Mysore/Mysuru, April 26 -- Former Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar, known for his blunt views, flagged the stark contrast between poor rural infrastructure and easy access to liquor, saying basic amenities like drinking water and roads remain elusive in villages even decades after Independence.

"Even after several decades of Independence, there has been no remarkable progress in basic amenities. But the system has evolved to a point where scotch is available at one's doorstep," he remarked.

Lamenting the erosion of values in public life, Ramesh Kumar said morality has disappeared from politics. Recalling former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri's resignation as Railway Minister after a train accident, he said such accountability is m...