Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Many a times in my childhood when I needed motivation, my grandmother would illume optimism through various stories where a grisly era ruled by devils came to an end when god exorcised the earth off them. Our Hindu mythology is deluged with such stories; they tell us how every oppression is repressed by the Divinity. But this time, they do not give any relief when India is daunted by devil of corruption. Although, the BJP led opposition leaves no chance to square off the government on corruption, yet there seem bleak chances of the devil being subjugated.

Corruption is no new word in the lexicon of Indian politics, time and again we have seen political parties creating brouhaha over CAG reports and media revelations but none of them really appealed for reforms to prevent such irregularities. Haunted by the spectre of corruption, nation has gone through some ghastful phases including national emergency. Jai Prakash Narain effectively projected Indira as a tyrant and ran an anti-Indira juggernaut all over the country. Consequently, the congress party lost its throne and Indira was ousted of the parliament and her residence.

But today India beseeches its JP, to not only revolt against the perpetrators but also to find a permanent solution to the problem. The allegations on the government are gross and opposition finds no way out other than resisting the proceedings of the parliament in demand of a JPC probe. While the government continually dismisses its demand in the pretext of the ongoing probe by various agencies including the PAC headed by Murli Manohar Joshi, a BJP leader, all that is going on is exchange of words and shooting questions on one another.

Wonder! What is the reason that no political party has had the audacity to put forward a proposal to whet out the sword against corruption? Why there has been no debate so far, to hasten the investigation and judicial process against the crooks? And why there has been no law passed that could ensure the independence and viability of the investigation agencies?

The BJP which consistently profess itself of being the flag bearers in the march against corruption gets subdued by its own chief minister facing almost similar charges in the state of Karnataka. However, its tenure in the centre had also not been spick and span. The leaders who beguile as reformist now, had earlier condoned its ministers allegedly involved in embezzlements. Not to forget the Tehelka expose in which the then defence minister George Fernandes and other members of his Samata Party were allegedly benefited by the swinging of arms deal. Although George Fernandes had resigned from his post, but later on was given a clean chit and reinstated in the same port folio.

Stung by the back to back Tehelka operations which revealed BJP president Bangaru Laxman receiving bribe and also those which inferred 2002 Gujrat Riots of being connived by the state government, the BJP came down heavily on the enterprise and practically ruined it by framing severe charges on the editor-in-chief and its financial backers.

Today, when we bid farewell to year 2010 we look back at it not only as a year when many scams were divulged but also a year when the Indian democratic system was proved impotent in combating corruption. This year has witnessed inefficiency of a central government to take strict actions against its tainted minister, a national party which was restrained by its chief minister from taking action against him and also the influence of corporate houses in politics and media. There was also an instance this year, when the Supreme Court had remarked at the discrepancies in Allahabad high court.

Significantly, it has been a year when the government, opposition, judiciary and the media have been at the receiving end of allegations and brickbats related to the unscrupulousness and ineffectiveness. The Common Indian on the other hand stands helpless in situation where he has to choose between devil and the deep blue sea....

An article by Gaurav Tripathi produced in general interest of public by GAAP