Corruption and bribery are deep-rooted in our contemporary society. Corruption in administrative organizations is rampant. All that we need to do is to hang our heads in shame as we have conveniently brought the country among the most corrupt countries of the world. There is hardly a week when a scam or a bribery case of incredibly wide network is not brought to the notice of the public by the media. One wonders whether there is any person and any functionary at higher echelons who is not corrupt or who does not indulge in bribery game? All this is happening and the Government goes on running its administration on snail’s pace. It has no compulsion to act promptly, investigate thoroughly and report back to the nation with causes, events and remedies of bribery. This and many more serious social and administrative evils spring from lack of accountability. If corrupt functionaries and others realize that they can be punished severely for the crimes they have committed against the nation, they would be deterred in their wretched designs. But alas! There is no accountability, there is ‘go free’ for everybody. Make hay while the sun shines, is the sadist philosophy they are following.
On each scam when brought to public domain, the Government reacts only laconically. It does not show any eagerness to come to the roots of this social evil and then try to find a solution to it with patience and statesmanship. Corruption at the top level, once considered an act of sacrilege, has become so widespread that it has immunised the people who now call it a part of life. But people with conscience wide awake are seriously asking a truly exasperating question. They ask whether we are competent enough to run democratic political system in this country. Do we as Indians have the will and capability of choosing the right person to become our representative and spokesperson in the Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies? Don’t we need drastic amendments in our constitution so as to make election of a Parliamentarian or a member of legislative assembly very difficult and very comprehensive? Age, educational qualification, status, connections, and above all accountability rider should become the guiding principles for one passing to be a candidate for election to Parliament or the Assembly.
The case in point is the recently unearthed scam in the Railways Department. A network of conspirators has been busted and four of its members arrested as they are alleged to be involved in a scam case. A certain person aspiring to be a Member of the Railway Board (Electricals) is alleged to have created a broad based underground network of influential and resourceful persons who had agreed to obtain the good offices of the nephew of the Railway Minister and against pecuniary benefits support the selection of this person as the Member of the Railway Board. According to preliminary statement made by the CBI before the judge, the deal was fixed at ten crore rupees and the aspirant was promised that contacts in the corridors of power would be contacted to get his name cleared. Obviously, the plan of roping in the nephew of the sitting Minister of Railways, Pawan Kumar Bansal, was to exert influence on him and seek the appointment of their candidate as Member Railway Board (electrical). This is how connections can be misused or used depending on the nature of the case.
Four persons are remanded by the court to CBI custody for interrogation. Four others also alleged to be involved are yet to be apprehended. There are many persons involved in the scam, and it seems to have spread over the entire country. The CBI spokesman says that efforts are going on to apprehend the other four alleged accomplices and brought to Delhi for interrogation. As enquiry progresses, certainly the expanse and spread-out of the conspiracy will come to light and that will be nothing short of a shock. Imagine that a top post in the prestigious Railway Board is on sale and the bidder has called for just ten crore rupees. A candidate who is willing to offer a bribe of ten crore for a certain post, can raise resources to earn many times more from the Railways once he is appointed at the cherished position. This should open up a sordid picture of bribery in this country. If a Member of the Board grabs the post by spending money lavishly, imagine the scale of bribery rampant in the entire administrative and at the lower rungs. We concede that the alleged culprit is a nephew of the Railways Minister Bansal. But the question is whether he did broach the matter with the Railway Minister and obtain his green signal or nor? This is precisely what the CBI shall have also to investigate. But notwithstanding this fact, it was the moral responsibility of Railway Minister to step aside till the Court cleared him of any accusation.
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