Friday, November 19, 2010

Augean stables getting cleaned? What a stink...

Looks like this is the come-to-Jesus moment for Indian politicians.

The Supreme Court of India has rightly asked why the supposedly clean Prime Minister was dawdling when A Raja was brazenly stealing the country's wealth in broad daylight. The government is in a bind, the Maharashtra CM is gone over stealing war widows homes, and the CWG culprit also is out of the Congress party's charmed circles. In Karnataka, the BJP CM is trying to brazen out the fact that 4 of his relatives were alloted plots in prime areas for a song. This is par for the course, and the fellow has to explain himself NOT because he should be flogged and jailed for corruption, but because this has come to light at a time when the BJP wants to embarrass the government on corruption charges. Meanwhile, an independent think-tank says that fully 50% of India's GDP is made up of black money, which pays no taxes and is illegal!

All this action is great for our polity. However, it is by no means enough. It all started gaining momentum because Sonia Gandhi got moving on the Adarsh society scam. (Aside: Much as I am against dynastic politics, I believe that Rahul Gandhi and his mom are India's best bets for probity in public life at this point in time). This is great, but we need to institutionalize comeuppance in our system. A corrupt person should be caught by a truly independent investigative agency, something like the Central Election Commission (the CBI? Ha Ha Ha - this is probably the most docile and conveniently blind of lapdogs in the world), be tried by courts which do not take 20 years to deliver their judgements, and be meted out swift punishment.

All this can be done, though it is by no means simple to do. But then, greatness for a country does not come on a platter - it has to be won through hard work and bloody-mindedness.

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