M L Gupta
India today is faced with rampant corruption, price rise, poverty, internal and external terror and economic failure. After almost 1400 years of slavery, India achieved independence in 1947 though in fragmented form. Congress ruled the country for most of the time after independence. Nehru the first Prime Minister of India overlooked corruption and constituted Central Vigilance Commission only in March 1964. However, all the investigating agencies remained under control of PMO and as such were influenced by the Government to save the corrupt politicians as well bureaucrats and to punish politicians in opposition and unpliable bureaucrats.
The various ministers and political leaders of ruling party or its allies had created huge assets even during Nehru’s time. After Nehru one after another scandal involving huge amount of corruption started surfacing. There was Nagarwala case involving then P.M Indira Gandhi, fodder for animals in which then Congress Chief Minister of Bihar Jagan Nath Mishra and thereafter Lalu Parsad Yadav RJD Chief Minister had swindled over 900 crores. Bofor gun deal involved Rajeev Gandhi who took over as Prime Minister of India in 1984. Then there was urea purchase scandal involving son of Narsimha Rao Prime Minister of India (1991-96). However the Congress led UPA Government has broken all records. The 2G spectrum allotment made by telecom minister A. Raja caused nation the loss of Rs. 1.76 Lac crores followed by 200 lac crore loss caused in allotment of coal blocks to Indian exchequer. These scams would have remained unnoticed if the supreme court had not given directions for investigations on public interest litigation. The impotency of investigating agencies and high headedness of the Congress lead UPA Government have come to public notice only thereafter. The Congress leadership has totally been exposed when some important files from the ministry of coal involving coal block allotment during the period in which the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself had held the charge of the coal ministry. Supreme Court has taken a serious note of government interference in CBI’s functioning. Recently arrest of a CEO of a major Anglo – Italian defence and aerospace conglomerate in Milan brought to light bribe paid to Indian defence officials to win $ 670 million contract for a military helicopters.
The Government of India’s decision to decontrol diesel and gas prices is certainly influenced by corporate sector which got entry into these commodities only after allotment of prized petroleum blocks. Ambani’s who got almost 30 blocks which otherwise would have been exploited by Nationalized Companies are the main beneficiaries The increase in diesel prices from time to time has tremendously increased the transportation cost as well the cost of commodities leaving the middle class and poor people in lurch.
The development projects promoted by UPA hardly benefits the people as most of money is siphoned away by politicians and bureaucrats in power. This is the reason prized postings are being sold at huge cost which is apparent from the deal made by an employee to pay 10 crores for the post of member electrical railway board which is under investigation. But like all cases of corruption and scandals against leaders in power and their pliable tools in bureaucracy this will also get hushed up in due course of time. However this has revealed how much money a politician in power can make by using absolute power be it in appointment on prized posting, allotment of lucrative licenses, be it in telecom sector etc., in allotment of Natural resources be it coal or petroleum blocks, purchase of defence hardware and equipments, contracts for execution of works particularly in NHAI (National Highway Authorities of India) or even for admission in professional colleges, allotment of MLC, MLA seats or ministerial berth . This favourtism, discrimination and nepotism flourishes and as such there is a need to free our election system from money and muscle power and governance from absolute power. To improve our election system the number of parties both at the national and state level should be reduced to two or three and election should be between the parties which should be provided Government mass media to propagate their manifestos and as well to conduct interparty debates. Each party may nominate their representatives depending on votes secured in election. The largest party should rule for routine business. Two third majority only required for issues of national importance. Similarly absolute power be eliminated in governance and investigation agencies should be made fully autonomous and free of Government control. Even the office of President of India and his nominee Governors in states be made free of party choice and control. A thorough debates to find ways and means for achieving above should be conducted. Other issues faced by the nation should similarly be debated for finding solutions to may problems facing the country.
(The author is former MD J&K Minerals)
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