INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION
Many things have happened under the banner of INDIA
AGAINST CORRUPTION.
Most of them are Good; but, some are not. That is the
way life works for any Organization.
Name & Shame, as IAC called it initially was not
GOOD at all. It was not backed up by any reasonable evidence – at that point of
time. Name and Shame was just that – Name and Shame. Anyone can do that against
anybody else in the world at any time.
Subsequent exposes in the case of Sri Robert Vadra and
Shri Salman Kurshid were reasonably supported by EVIDENCES. That shook the Nation and enhanced
the credibility of IAC in the eyes of the public. These EXPOSES are clearly,
materially, ethically different from NAME & SHAME which had no
responsibility for the shame hurled at
others without evidence.
Subsequent expose of BJP President, Nitin Gadkari seemed
again to be empty words of Name and Shame. Even now, it seems to be so. Simply
because, he is RICH, and because he happens to be the President of the
No.1.Opposition Party in India, IAC should not presume that he is also, ipso
facto, as corrupt as the Politicians of
the Party in Power. The exposes in case
of the BJP President not only did not establish any CORRUPTION as such, but,
seemed to suggest that the BJP PRESIDENT was actually doing a GREAT PHILANTHROPIC JOB out there. And, the philanthropic, or at least social service
job, is not denied by any one so far. The purpose of all that he is doing
there, or a trust on his behalf is doing there, seems to be to bring up the
farmers’ lot. Mr. Sharad Pawar also said so. No one in Congress denied this. Pawar’s
saying this, by itself, should not be seen as establishing NEXUS between the
two Politicians. If there really is such NEXUS, IAC should not merely cast such
aspersions but back them up by SOLID EVIDENCES as in the case of Vadra and
Kurshid.
On the other hand, the so called EXPOSER on behalf of
IAC seemed to have some axe to grind or even a hidden Agenda.
Therefore, IAC’s record has unnecessarily become mixed.
Even now, IAC members are trying to cast such EVIDENCE-LESS ASPERSIONS on this
Opposition leader. They must clearly understand that it is pointless and
meaningless. THEIR SAYING SO – does not make any X or Y corrupt. Nation needs
evidence – not just rumour-mongering.
If rumours are to be taken as true, many things said of
IAC members by some Political spokesmen also should be taken as true. But, that
is not correct. Mere creation of rumours or spreading them is not sound,
ethical Politics.
My strong suggestion is - IAC members must not indulge in
such rumour mongering, which reduces their credibility severely. The Nation has
High Hopes of IAC. Many like us feel that they will be different; that they will stick to truth. They must come
with evidence, and nation will give them all due respect – but, if IAC talks
rumours without evidence – especially when the BJP leader has openly said that
he is willing to face ANY INVESTIGATION, the nation will have to look at IAC’s
words too with a pinch of salt.
Also, any wrong doings by others – other than Gadkari
personally – should be ascribed to those OTHERS – not to Gadkari.
These are ethics, the principles that must not be
violated – if IAC wants to be a POLITICAL PARTY
with a difference. Unprincipled rumour-mongering puts IAC also into the same
lot as other Political Parties.
The problem with IAC is – that instead of gathering more
and more support, it is frittering away the support.
If one wears coloured Glasses, the whole world looks
coloured – not because the world is – but because of wearing of coloured Glasses.
The world, especially, India, is of course steeped in Huge corruption, but, IAC
must be able to distinguish the CORRUPT
into distinct segments.
1. There are those who are corrupt to the core, and would
corrupt anyone else in the world, to serve their selfish interests. If someone does
not toe their line, they do not hesitate to eliminate them also. Look at the
number of RTI activists, who were eliminated – which has negatived all the Good
that is done by the RTI Act, and all the Good that it is capable of. Any Good
Government or even the IAC need only to track these dangerous, Corrupt Criminals
and scan their movements closely – and, without an iota of doubt, they will
lead to their Political masters and bureaucratic friends, with all evidences.
This has happened in the mining scam in the South, to a certain extent. Justice
Hegde’s report hit exactly here. These are the first category of people to be
scanned. IAC’s scanner must be turned towards them on Priority.
2. The second category are equally corrupt – but, they are
only corrupt. They do not indulge in other crimes like murder, rape etc, to
threaten their opponents. If they get exposed, or, fear exposure, they will
reform.
3. The third category are corrupt, because, there is no
other way, in their respective surroundings. When many around you are Corrupt,
you will have to follow them – just to avoid, getting into unnecessary
problems. I have seen people being punished for silly things – just for not
being corrupt.
4. Some people are NOT CORRUPT themselves, but, have no patience or Guts, or
means, to fight it. These are the people who can join Anna, or RamDev, or IAC.
They must be given the Guts to face corruption squarely. There is no point in
saying – if problem comes, you face it, else you join our efforts. If problem
comes, members must be protected. If the FIGHTER is not PROTECTED, the
FIGHT will die out.
5. Then, there are people who have all the Guts to oppose
corruption – but, just lack support. The RTI activists who died, the Officers
like Khemka - are all of this category.
There are many such people. But, organizations like Anna, IAC, Bharat Swabhiman
must get them, make them act and protect them with all their might.
If IAC cannot distinguish people into such categories
and looks at everyone with the same coloured Glasses, it would be a Gross
Mistake. Among Politicians also, all
these categories are there.
Simply because, IAC has exposed some ruling party
politicians so far – should not mean that they must now expose an Opposition
Party Politician of similar stature, even if they have no great evidence
against him.
What Opposition parties and IAC could not do – one CAG
has done so well – just as part of its duty. He is able to get the scent where
the problem really lies. Ditto with SC. But for the honest and courageous
actions of Supreme Court, many scams would never have seen the light of the
day. That should percolate to the lowest level Judiciary.
Coming Back to IAC - there are INTERESTING QUESTIONS
about what will happen to each of the EXPOSES of IAC. No doubt, media also supported
IAC very well. But then, what will happen now? Will there be an Investigation?
Who will do it and why will they?
The same old answer comes into mind. No Investigation
may take place. If it does, it may be into limited, insignificant aspects of
the exposes.
So, India needs a STRONG LOK PAL, who can act suo motu. We
need him today. We needed him 65 years ago. But, at least now, we should have
him very quickly. And, at state level, every state needs Lok Ayuktha. This cannot be at the discretion
of the states. No state CM or Assembly can be permitted to say – during my
tenure, there shall not be a lok pal, in my state. Can we similarly allow a
state CM or assembly, to have or not to have a High Court, or the State
Accountant General (Under CAG) for their audit – at their discretion? That sort
of discretion cannot be part of FEDERAL
STRUCTURE and RIGHTS OF STATES. The entire Nation must have an OMBUDSMAN for
corruption monitoring – and this structure should be uniform like the Judicial
structure and no State can be exempt from this. Definitely not in circumstances
in which India is placed.
India must have a Strong Lok Pal and a strong Lok
Ayuktha in each state – in all states without Exception – including J&K,
Nagaland etc. BJP, Congress and all
National Parties must first take this principled stand. They will take this
stand – provided Anna, Baba Ram Dev and IAC allow them, appeal to them, persuade
them, force them and make them do it in the Parliament. Where else will the
Bill be Passed?
IAC, Baba RamDev
and Anna must, on their part remain a little flexible. No insistence on
JAN LOK PAL, no insistence on too many conditionalities, but insistence on
Basics – just that much – is required from these crusaders.
We know that some UPA ministers are proved corrupt. Some
more will be there in all states. But can we say, the whole Congress or all UPA
Parties are corrupt? This sweeping charge is illogical and Bad. So is the assumption
with any Political Party.
So, IAC and other crusaders must support Anna’s crusade
for LOK PAL BILL. Anna also must not cling to the words, JAN LOK PAL BILL,
which implies, either it is my way or the High way. Anna and other crusaders can
call it a strong LOK PAL BILL.
There is another INTERESTING ASPECT in this crusade
against Corruption. IAC, ANNA and Swami Ram Dev cannot come together and fight –
even for the simple purpose of ENFORCING A LOK PAL BILL !! On this one Agenda, they
must sink their differences, come together, stop quarreling with Politicians
and MPs – but make them all vote for a STRONG LOK PAL BILL. If they all can’t
join together for even this admittedly noble cause – how do they expect
Politicians to come together for this Purpose?
The Strong Lok Pal must have strong support of CBI (Corruption
wing), which must be answerable only to the Lok Pal. Without this, there is no
way, it can be strong. Lok Pal must have direct jurisdiction over Gr.A and Gr.G
officers and all PSUs officers of similar rank.
Rest of the people can be under INDEPENDENT
ANTI-CORRUPTION WINGS of the respective
organizations – and they all must come under CVC, who will report to Lok Pal.
A similar structure can be evolved for states as well.
The Bill with such logical, practical structure must be got passed in
Parliament, with MAJORITY SUPPORT. This must be the TOP PRIORITY CONCERN for Anna, Baba Ram Dev and IAC.
All exposes thereafter will make sense. Not before.
Lok Pal must of course by selected by a collegium
consisting of Supreme Court judges, a Ruling party nominee, a Principal
opposition party nominee – and he must preferably a person with Judicial
Background. He must be answerable to Supreme court and to a certain extent to
the Parliament. He must also lay before Parliament, an annual or Half-yearly
report – like CAG.
Parliament must have no say, in respect of investigations
and actions initiated – as these will be governed by civil and criminal law.
If some GIVE & TAKE exists – and if some Unity
exists among Crusaders - things will move in Parliament too. Dr. Man Mohan
Singh is still the right man to move the LOK PAL BILL and get it passed in
Parliament – and Anna, Ram Devji and IAC must appeal to him and to the
Opposition Parties to get this momentous task done under their leadership.BJP
was and perhaps is still willing to back all major points of Team Anna.
But, if the present NAME & SHAME continues like a Game of one-upmanship, India
will be a loser in the long run. Six months down the lane, no one will remember
the exposes against Robert Vadra or Salman Kurshid.
That is how, India works.
* * *
E N D * * *
