Indian government under increasing pressure to combat corruption
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Zaglul A.Chowdhury
A veteran social activist and Gandhian, Anna Hazare has fired the latest salvo against increasing corruption at different levels in India. He has urged the government of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for undertaking effective measures including suitable legislation to rid the nation of the menace of corruption which has taken an alarming proportion. He has written an open letter to the Indian prime minister not to "mislead" the people on the issue of corruption and said the process to combat the situation needs sincere efforts with honest persons involved in the procedure. A number of corruption-related scandals have already rattled the Indian government, which, however, is basking on the rare glory of winning the world cup cricket that was co-hosted by India, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. While the entire Indian nation is being swept away by the tremendous success of their team in the competition, the government is undeniably deriving the maximum benefits from the achievement. It is because the prime minister and other key functionaries of the Indian government as well the most powerful persons in its ruling circles - Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, both top leaders of the Congress party that heads the ruling rainbow coalition -- were all involved with the cricket euphoria. Besides, the Indian Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, is the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and this helped the government better its image because of holding a successful world cup tournament that saw India reaching the pinnacle by winning the cup for the second time, but after 28 long years. But Anna Hazare has also stuck his gun against senior minister Sharad Pawar on the corruption issue and accused him, with many others, of financial wrongdoings. He says a country like India cannot afford corruption when its founding leader Mahatma Gandhi set a great example of simplicity in public life and many others followed the suit. Hazare says India is slipping away from such traditions and now the dishonest appear to be ruling the roost. The anti-graft crusader had gone onto fasting to protest the terribly disconcerting condition and is asking the government for taking measures including enacting laws that would curb corruption and discourage the ever increasing trend. However, several government figures say that the situation is not as bad as being painted and seek to assert that the government is coming down heavily on corruption and other forms of malpractice. Shaward Pawar too said he would resign from the government if evidence of corruption is found against him. True, the government of Manmohan Singh is facing a number of corruption-related allegations at the moment and the critics are keeping the pot boiling against the government. It is not a single issue, but a plethora of scandals that have rocked the government, even though the prime minister and ruling heavyweights like Sonia Gandhi and her son, Rahul, have not been accused of any wrongdoings. Furthermore, Dr Singh is known for his personal integrity and has made his wealth public and the assets are quite modest, given his past background and present position. This is definitely admirable. But the recently-held Commonwealth Games in New Delhi first raised the dust as accusations of rampant corruption marred the Games and fingers were pointed at several high-ups including Congress leader Suresh Kamaldi, who was later taken to task. The allotment of government flats, meant for the widows of the soldiers who died during the Kargil war, was given to the dear and near ones of powerful people, breaking the rules and perhaps graft may have also played a role here. In another scandal, several government banks were charged with giving big loans clandestinely in exchange of bribes. But the biggest scandal that really rocked the government was the multi-billion dollar telephone scam in which minister A. Raja was shown the door and later arrested only when things came to such a pass as to seriously trouble the government. On this matter, even the Indian Supreme Court reprimanded the prime minister for not acting on time against the errant persons. Several persons including the sacked minister have now been charge-sheeted in the sensational scandal. The Indian government is battling this situation while it has no other major threat as such to its current five-year term, which is now even less than midway through in the second successive tenure. Anna Hazare's relentless crusade against corruption has given a new dimension to the burning issue with the government coming under increasing pressure to take immediate measures against corruption. The government says it is exploring all avenues to plug the holes of corruption and will show no mercy to anyone involved in corrupt practices. But Hazare wants concrete actions and not the "lip service" and says that it should be a bounden duty for the government to take up measures so that people are really convinced about the true and effective anti-graft crusade. (The writer can be reached at e-mail: zaglulbss@yahoo.com)
A veteran social activist and Gandhian, Anna Hazare has fired the latest salvo against increasing corruption at different levels in India. He has urged the government of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for undertaking effective measures including suitable legislation to rid the nation of the menace of corruption which has taken an alarming proportion. He has written an open letter to the Indian prime minister not to "mislead" the people on the issue of corruption and said the process to combat the situation needs sincere efforts with honest persons involved in the procedure. A number of corruption-related scandals have already rattled the Indian government, which, however, is basking on the rare glory of winning the world cup cricket that was co-hosted by India, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. While the entire Indian nation is being swept away by the tremendous success of their team in the competition, the government is undeniably deriving the maximum benefits from the achievement. It is because the prime minister and other key functionaries of the Indian government as well the most powerful persons in its ruling circles - Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, both top leaders of the Congress party that heads the ruling rainbow coalition -- were all involved with the cricket euphoria. Besides, the Indian Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, is the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and this helped the government better its image because of holding a successful world cup tournament that saw India reaching the pinnacle by winning the cup for the second time, but after 28 long years. But Anna Hazare has also stuck his gun against senior minister Sharad Pawar on the corruption issue and accused him, with many others, of financial wrongdoings. He says a country like India cannot afford corruption when its founding leader Mahatma Gandhi set a great example of simplicity in public life and many others followed the suit. Hazare says India is slipping away from such traditions and now the dishonest appear to be ruling the roost. The anti-graft crusader had gone onto fasting to protest the terribly disconcerting condition and is asking the government for taking measures including enacting laws that would curb corruption and discourage the ever increasing trend. However, several government figures say that the situation is not as bad as being painted and seek to assert that the government is coming down heavily on corruption and other forms of malpractice. Shaward Pawar too said he would resign from the government if evidence of corruption is found against him. True, the government of Manmohan Singh is facing a number of corruption-related allegations at the moment and the critics are keeping the pot boiling against the government. It is not a single issue, but a plethora of scandals that have rocked the government, even though the prime minister and ruling heavyweights like Sonia Gandhi and her son, Rahul, have not been accused of any wrongdoings. Furthermore, Dr Singh is known for his personal integrity and has made his wealth public and the assets are quite modest, given his past background and present position. This is definitely admirable. But the recently-held Commonwealth Games in New Delhi first raised the dust as accusations of rampant corruption marred the Games and fingers were pointed at several high-ups including Congress leader Suresh Kamaldi, who was later taken to task. The allotment of government flats, meant for the widows of the soldiers who died during the Kargil war, was given to the dear and near ones of powerful people, breaking the rules and perhaps graft may have also played a role here. In another scandal, several government banks were charged with giving big loans clandestinely in exchange of bribes. But the biggest scandal that really rocked the government was the multi-billion dollar telephone scam in which minister A. Raja was shown the door and later arrested only when things came to such a pass as to seriously trouble the government. On this matter, even the Indian Supreme Court reprimanded the prime minister for not acting on time against the errant persons. Several persons including the sacked minister have now been charge-sheeted in the sensational scandal. The Indian government is battling this situation while it has no other major threat as such to its current five-year term, which is now even less than midway through in the second successive tenure. Anna Hazare's relentless crusade against corruption has given a new dimension to the burning issue with the government coming under increasing pressure to take immediate measures against corruption. The government says it is exploring all avenues to plug the holes of corruption and will show no mercy to anyone involved in corrupt practices. But Hazare wants concrete actions and not the "lip service" and says that it should be a bounden duty for the government to take up measures so that people are really convinced about the true and effective anti-graft crusade. (The writer can be reached at e-mail: zaglulbss@yahoo.com)