2010-The Year of Corruption
The year 2010 can be easily called as the year of the corruption. Eversince the month of November, Scam after Scam has surfaced from the dark underbelly of the Indian politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats. The cauldron of corruption, which in India is always bubbling quietly in the background, suddenly erupted -- not once, but several times, in headline-hitting but unconnected instances. While the most recent scandals were surfacing, Global Financial Integrity (GFI) in Washington published a report whose findings show that, India lost a total of US$213 billion dollars due to illicit flows, the present value of which is at least US$462 billion. "The total value of illicit assets held abroad represents about 72% of the size of India's underground economy which has been estimated at 50% of India's GDP (or about US$640 billion at end 2008)," says the report. Interestingly, the outflow of illicit funds has actually gone up in the post-liberalization period. Liberalization has produced greater income inequality. The number of high net-worth individuals (HNIs) has gone up. Capital exodus is caused primarily by private companies and HNIs. After liberalization and the rise of adulation for the wealthy, regardless of how that wealth was acquired, there seems to be no social penalty attached to having illegal wealth, and it is rare for anyone -- businessman or politician -- to be caught and penalized for corruption. Lalu, Jayalalitha, Mayawati, Koda, Kalmadi, and Raja are all examples of it.
Clubbed with the rampant corruption is the frustration of Parliament logjams. The winter session of the parliament ended without any debate. The common man watched the issues being debated everywhere from TV studios to Business forums but not in the Parliament.
At the end of the year let us ask ourself if there is hope in Indian democracy. The exposure of the 2G and CWG scams are positive signals. The way scams are exposed suggests that there are some self-correcting features in the Indian system, even if they work in a less predictable manner. There is hope for all of us.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
“Wiki(ed) winter of discontent'
“Wiki(ed) winter of discontent'
The onset of winter has engulfed the ruling UPA in the heat of corruption charges, parliament logjam, and controversial appointment of the CVC. Hardly any legislative business has been conducted in Parliament since the Session began on 9th November. The successive days of adjournment sees a loss of Rs.7.8 crore per day to the nation. There has been no debate except that of JPC vs. PAC. By not allowing Parliament to function, the Opposition is denying the people of India an opportunity to have their voice heard on the many important issues. Telecom, Commonwealth Games, CVC appointment and hoards of other issues engaging the people of India deserve to be discussed in Parliament. This continuous disruption is generating a greater cynicism among people about the effectiveness of democratic institutions in addressing the real needs of the people. The opposition must choose from the options which the government has come forward with and end this impasse.
The flood of material unleashed by WikiLeaks have stripped away many illusions among us. That US diplomats often double up as spies and Middle Eastern nations perceived Iran as a bigger threat than Israel. There is plenty of what the British call “funny peculiar’’ in these cables. How much of the damage will this diplomatic tsunami do to the world is yet to be seen. But there definitely are echoes here of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's thoughts that society is evolving towards more transparency and less privacy. We Indians have got the taste of our own leaks in the form of Radia tapes. These leaks have brought in a very ironical situation of the trial of the media by the media itself. The ethics of journalism which was slowly fading into oblivion is back in focus. These leaks have also brought on discussion tables the very obscure right to privacy in India. Till such time when the Supreme Court decides on the privacy issue, we are happy that these leaks, while bringing into question several ethical questions of media practice, has definitely provided an opportunity to introspect, reassess and actually strengthen the media. Thanks to these leaks, companies and journalists as much as for governments, deeds will henceforward have to match words. If they don't, you can assume you will suffer a Wikileaks crisis of your own, for it is from that discrepancy (or hypocrisy) that Wikileaks finds its energy — and other leakers will in the future. Like it or not, what has happened this fortnight is of profound importance that private dealings match your public declarations, if not perfectly then at least pretty close. The whole scenario of the leaks looks like a larger Big Boss being played on the world arena. Telling Dolly what Sara said to Shweta!! Let us keep the faith that this winter of discontent will soon turn in to hope. “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”
The onset of winter has engulfed the ruling UPA in the heat of corruption charges, parliament logjam, and controversial appointment of the CVC. Hardly any legislative business has been conducted in Parliament since the Session began on 9th November. The successive days of adjournment sees a loss of Rs.7.8 crore per day to the nation. There has been no debate except that of JPC vs. PAC. By not allowing Parliament to function, the Opposition is denying the people of India an opportunity to have their voice heard on the many important issues. Telecom, Commonwealth Games, CVC appointment and hoards of other issues engaging the people of India deserve to be discussed in Parliament. This continuous disruption is generating a greater cynicism among people about the effectiveness of democratic institutions in addressing the real needs of the people. The opposition must choose from the options which the government has come forward with and end this impasse.
The flood of material unleashed by WikiLeaks have stripped away many illusions among us. That US diplomats often double up as spies and Middle Eastern nations perceived Iran as a bigger threat than Israel. There is plenty of what the British call “funny peculiar’’ in these cables. How much of the damage will this diplomatic tsunami do to the world is yet to be seen. But there definitely are echoes here of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's thoughts that society is evolving towards more transparency and less privacy. We Indians have got the taste of our own leaks in the form of Radia tapes. These leaks have brought in a very ironical situation of the trial of the media by the media itself. The ethics of journalism which was slowly fading into oblivion is back in focus. These leaks have also brought on discussion tables the very obscure right to privacy in India. Till such time when the Supreme Court decides on the privacy issue, we are happy that these leaks, while bringing into question several ethical questions of media practice, has definitely provided an opportunity to introspect, reassess and actually strengthen the media. Thanks to these leaks, companies and journalists as much as for governments, deeds will henceforward have to match words. If they don't, you can assume you will suffer a Wikileaks crisis of your own, for it is from that discrepancy (or hypocrisy) that Wikileaks finds its energy — and other leakers will in the future. Like it or not, what has happened this fortnight is of profound importance that private dealings match your public declarations, if not perfectly then at least pretty close. The whole scenario of the leaks looks like a larger Big Boss being played on the world arena. Telling Dolly what Sara said to Shweta!! Let us keep the faith that this winter of discontent will soon turn in to hope. “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Season of scams
My Take…
A very familiar "season of scams" has returned in a depressing re-run. The sweet background music of Obama’s successful visit had barely faded in our memories, that it was taken over by the loud & ugly shrill of corruption. The landmark right to information law, which was praised by Obama in the parliament, has been mocked by its own creators. A Raja’s blatant disregard for any transparency and accountability has proved right the famous anonymous saying that “Corruption is authority plus monopoly minus transparency”. Alas this cancer continues to spread, eating into the vitals of our life and polity.
I remember Verappa Moliy’s repeated rhetoric of zero tolerance for corruption at a meeting of federal investigators last year. In a forceful pitch to stamp out corruption, the erudite Mr Moily invoked some 15 writers and leaders, including Plato, Gandhi, Lincoln and Gladstone, to drive home the point that endemic corruption destroys societies. "While we all know that the cancer of corruption has seeped into the blood stream of our polity, the million dollar question that stares us in the face is what can be done other than what we have been doing in the name of combating this evil all along," wondered Mr. Moily with his characteristic flourish. Well good question but no answers.
The web of Corruption has spread to every area of life. From Politicians and sports officials in CWG to retired senior army officers and relatives of senior politicians who are accused of helping themselves to apartments meant for war widows in Mumbai. A building in Delhi collapses - killing more than 60 people - because municipal officials and police apparently looked the other way as the builder kept adding illegal floors. Two top teams of our showpiece private cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, are expelled after they are accused of fudging their ownership and financial details. Political corruption is rife: in the current elections in Bihar, our poorest and most backward state, more than a quarter of candidates from the main political parties, by their own admission, are millionaires. The icing on the corruption cake has been the Judiciary and the indictment of Justice Soumitra Sen’s in the misappropriation of public funds.
The symbiotic relationship between the corruption of the poor and the corruption of the rich is where it all begins. One trades political power for money; the other trades money for political power. But in both cases, as an analyst says, "something public - a vote or an office or decision - is sold for private gain". No wonder we rank at 87 on the Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index, below Ghana and Rwanda.
Our records of prosecuting people for corruption show our sorry state. There are more than 9,000 cases brought by the CBI pending in various courts. More than 2,000 of these cases have been pending for more than a decade. A large number involve public servants and their aides and associates who have been caught with their hands in the till. With a conviction rate of 42% one of the lowest in the world the wheels of justice grind so slow that most victims give up. This war has to be fought by the people. Right now, it's only a section of the media and a clutch of brave freedom of information whistle-blowers who are fighting the battle. We - especially the consenting middle-class India of empty Face book rage - has to begin believing that it doesn't have to live with corruption. We need to destroy this highway to power and wealth.
A very familiar "season of scams" has returned in a depressing re-run. The sweet background music of Obama’s successful visit had barely faded in our memories, that it was taken over by the loud & ugly shrill of corruption. The landmark right to information law, which was praised by Obama in the parliament, has been mocked by its own creators. A Raja’s blatant disregard for any transparency and accountability has proved right the famous anonymous saying that “Corruption is authority plus monopoly minus transparency”. Alas this cancer continues to spread, eating into the vitals of our life and polity.
I remember Verappa Moliy’s repeated rhetoric of zero tolerance for corruption at a meeting of federal investigators last year. In a forceful pitch to stamp out corruption, the erudite Mr Moily invoked some 15 writers and leaders, including Plato, Gandhi, Lincoln and Gladstone, to drive home the point that endemic corruption destroys societies. "While we all know that the cancer of corruption has seeped into the blood stream of our polity, the million dollar question that stares us in the face is what can be done other than what we have been doing in the name of combating this evil all along," wondered Mr. Moily with his characteristic flourish. Well good question but no answers.
The web of Corruption has spread to every area of life. From Politicians and sports officials in CWG to retired senior army officers and relatives of senior politicians who are accused of helping themselves to apartments meant for war widows in Mumbai. A building in Delhi collapses - killing more than 60 people - because municipal officials and police apparently looked the other way as the builder kept adding illegal floors. Two top teams of our showpiece private cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, are expelled after they are accused of fudging their ownership and financial details. Political corruption is rife: in the current elections in Bihar, our poorest and most backward state, more than a quarter of candidates from the main political parties, by their own admission, are millionaires. The icing on the corruption cake has been the Judiciary and the indictment of Justice Soumitra Sen’s in the misappropriation of public funds.
The symbiotic relationship between the corruption of the poor and the corruption of the rich is where it all begins. One trades political power for money; the other trades money for political power. But in both cases, as an analyst says, "something public - a vote or an office or decision - is sold for private gain". No wonder we rank at 87 on the Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index, below Ghana and Rwanda.
Our records of prosecuting people for corruption show our sorry state. There are more than 9,000 cases brought by the CBI pending in various courts. More than 2,000 of these cases have been pending for more than a decade. A large number involve public servants and their aides and associates who have been caught with their hands in the till. With a conviction rate of 42% one of the lowest in the world the wheels of justice grind so slow that most victims give up. This war has to be fought by the people. Right now, it's only a section of the media and a clutch of brave freedom of information whistle-blowers who are fighting the battle. We - especially the consenting middle-class India of empty Face book rage - has to begin believing that it doesn't have to live with corruption. We need to destroy this highway to power and wealth.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Great Expectations
Great Expectations
Barack Obama's visit to India comes during the subcontinent’s festival of light but nothing in his official business looks likely to set the sky alight. His defeat in the mid term election has also robbed off some of his charm. In fact even before he steps foot in the capital the visit has been proclaimed it as a damp squib by the pollitical pundits. Obama is expected to live up to the expectations set by his predecessor George Bush under whom the relations between India and America improved significantly. But to the dismay of many in both countries the budding friendship between Obama and Manmohan Singh has failed to kick on.
If the Indians are expecting a grand Diwali gift from him then we may be in for a dissappointment. He may not bring good news for India, which is currently focused on an intense debate on President Obama’s policy on outsourcing (negative for India), the non-sharing of critical intelligence information which could have avoided the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks by Pakistan-based terrorists, and the expected non-endorsement of India for the permanent, veto-wielding membership of the UN Security Council. It appears to many in the country that President Obama is coming to India to seek an order of approximately USD 10B for US fighter planes, which could create around 50,000 jobs in the U.S. and continuous business over the next decade from India. The Indian businessmen’s major concerns of the huge hike in H-1B visa fees which the US Congress recently introduced to raise $600 million for securing the US-Mexican border is unlikely to be addressed. This will cost the IT firms immensly. Obama’s defeat in the House of Representative has ensured that he does not publicly support or promises anything to the Indian IT industry.
Obama is also expected to keep Pakistan happy. Circumstances in the subcontinent and back at home do not allow Mr Obama to come up with an aggressive statement gainst his strategic partner on the war on terror. It seems that the opportunity to seal a fantastic relationship with the world’s largest democracy is going to be wasted away due to difficult circumstances in US and the subcontinent.
Barack Obama's visit to India comes during the subcontinent’s festival of light but nothing in his official business looks likely to set the sky alight. His defeat in the mid term election has also robbed off some of his charm. In fact even before he steps foot in the capital the visit has been proclaimed it as a damp squib by the pollitical pundits. Obama is expected to live up to the expectations set by his predecessor George Bush under whom the relations between India and America improved significantly. But to the dismay of many in both countries the budding friendship between Obama and Manmohan Singh has failed to kick on.
If the Indians are expecting a grand Diwali gift from him then we may be in for a dissappointment. He may not bring good news for India, which is currently focused on an intense debate on President Obama’s policy on outsourcing (negative for India), the non-sharing of critical intelligence information which could have avoided the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks by Pakistan-based terrorists, and the expected non-endorsement of India for the permanent, veto-wielding membership of the UN Security Council. It appears to many in the country that President Obama is coming to India to seek an order of approximately USD 10B for US fighter planes, which could create around 50,000 jobs in the U.S. and continuous business over the next decade from India. The Indian businessmen’s major concerns of the huge hike in H-1B visa fees which the US Congress recently introduced to raise $600 million for securing the US-Mexican border is unlikely to be addressed. This will cost the IT firms immensly. Obama’s defeat in the House of Representative has ensured that he does not publicly support or promises anything to the Indian IT industry.
Obama is also expected to keep Pakistan happy. Circumstances in the subcontinent and back at home do not allow Mr Obama to come up with an aggressive statement gainst his strategic partner on the war on terror. It seems that the opportunity to seal a fantastic relationship with the world’s largest democracy is going to be wasted away due to difficult circumstances in US and the subcontinent.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Bihar Election - My Editorial
Development over Caste
The first major election after Ayodhya verdict is being watched closely by the entire country. All major political parties are waiting to gauge the impact of the verdict on outcome. The political parties have so far downplayed the Ayodhya verdict in the runup to the election. This election is truly between the caste and development. The turnaround of the state, known as one of India's poorest and most lawless regions, is touted as an example of how India can shake off caste politics and promote new roads and power to win votes. Through the remarkable turnaround of Bihar economy, Nitish has shown that social justice ought to include material well-being, not merely caste empowerment. Kumar's road projects have helped the economy grow at an average of 11.35 percent annually between 2004 and 2009, compared with an annualised 3.5 percent in the previous five years. It has beaten national growth by several percentage points. The most visible sign of how much things have improved in what used to be a byword for national despair is that people walk at night on the roads in Bihar. The forthcoming assembly polls are quite clearly a battle between a man who ‘devoured’ Bihar and one who resurrected it. But would Chief Minister’s development card fully succeed in eliminating the caste politics? The results will give the answer.
The first major election after Ayodhya verdict is being watched closely by the entire country. All major political parties are waiting to gauge the impact of the verdict on outcome. The political parties have so far downplayed the Ayodhya verdict in the runup to the election. This election is truly between the caste and development. The turnaround of the state, known as one of India's poorest and most lawless regions, is touted as an example of how India can shake off caste politics and promote new roads and power to win votes. Through the remarkable turnaround of Bihar economy, Nitish has shown that social justice ought to include material well-being, not merely caste empowerment. Kumar's road projects have helped the economy grow at an average of 11.35 percent annually between 2004 and 2009, compared with an annualised 3.5 percent in the previous five years. It has beaten national growth by several percentage points. The most visible sign of how much things have improved in what used to be a byword for national despair is that people walk at night on the roads in Bihar. The forthcoming assembly polls are quite clearly a battle between a man who ‘devoured’ Bihar and one who resurrected it. But would Chief Minister’s development card fully succeed in eliminating the caste politics? The results will give the answer.
Friday, October 8, 2010
"Death versus Deterrence".
"Death versus Deterrence".
The focus during the past days has been on judgments. Some of these judgments were being watched keenly by the world as well as the media. Be it the ‘Panchayati style” Ayodhya verdict or the commuting of death penalty of Santosh Singh to life imprisonment, every citizen these days seem to be questioning the judiciary and our eminent judges. The Ayodhya verdict has been welcomed by many and scorned by some. Similarly the commuting of the death penalty to life in the Mattoo case has been seriously questioned by her family and friends. Can life imprisonment be a good alternative to death penalty? The issue remains unresolved.
Why does a society punish its members for certain acts that are offensive and unacceptable to its laws and codes? This can be a starting point of exploring our dilemma about death penalty vs. life imprisonment. It is argued that fear of death deters people from committing crimes, and the penalty of death exerts a positive moral influence.
The death penalty laws have invited ire and ridicule of human rights activists everywhere, and Courts in most democratic countries, including India, have been very sparing in pronouncing death sentences in the ‘rarest of rare cases”. Yet, crimes of murder and rape and the cruel manner in which they are carried out, at times, make ordinary citizens support and commend death penalty. Countries that no longer have death penalty have not experienced an increase in the number of murders. Capital punishment is retributive justice, and murder rates bear no logical correlation to the death penalty’s deterrent value. Whether deterrent or punishment, the death penalty belongs to the bygone era. It is a barbaric remnant of an uncivilized society, immoral in principle, unfair and discriminatory in practice. Life imprisonment without parole and actually for life with some added social purpose appears to be a better alternative to death penalty.
The focus during the past days has been on judgments. Some of these judgments were being watched keenly by the world as well as the media. Be it the ‘Panchayati style” Ayodhya verdict or the commuting of death penalty of Santosh Singh to life imprisonment, every citizen these days seem to be questioning the judiciary and our eminent judges. The Ayodhya verdict has been welcomed by many and scorned by some. Similarly the commuting of the death penalty to life in the Mattoo case has been seriously questioned by her family and friends. Can life imprisonment be a good alternative to death penalty? The issue remains unresolved.
Why does a society punish its members for certain acts that are offensive and unacceptable to its laws and codes? This can be a starting point of exploring our dilemma about death penalty vs. life imprisonment. It is argued that fear of death deters people from committing crimes, and the penalty of death exerts a positive moral influence.
The death penalty laws have invited ire and ridicule of human rights activists everywhere, and Courts in most democratic countries, including India, have been very sparing in pronouncing death sentences in the ‘rarest of rare cases”. Yet, crimes of murder and rape and the cruel manner in which they are carried out, at times, make ordinary citizens support and commend death penalty. Countries that no longer have death penalty have not experienced an increase in the number of murders. Capital punishment is retributive justice, and murder rates bear no logical correlation to the death penalty’s deterrent value. Whether deterrent or punishment, the death penalty belongs to the bygone era. It is a barbaric remnant of an uncivilized society, immoral in principle, unfair and discriminatory in practice. Life imprisonment without parole and actually for life with some added social purpose appears to be a better alternative to death penalty.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
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