Category: Politics

Shehla Masood, the RTI activist from Madhya Pradesh who was shot and killed recently, joined the unfortunate list of seventeen other known cases of RTI activists who have suffered the same fate over the last couple of years. According to a close associate of Shehla, she filed more than one thousand RTI applications in diverse areas ranging from the judiciary, the tendering process, the enforcement of Wildlife and Forest laws, heritage conservation, the lavish spending of public money, and human rights abuses. Quite understandably, she had accumulated a host of enemies across a broad range of departments until some vested interests decided it was time to snuff out this passionate and committed voice forever. Shehla Masood is not an isolated case. Such executions have been taking place every few months with almost predictable precision: Firebrand activist files several RTI applications, becomes a threat to those in power, gets killed by unknown assailants who are never traced.

Click here to read the rest of the article in The Economic Times

The anti-corruption drama has now moved to the next stage. At the moment, all sides seem to be claiming victory. As one observes the developments over the last few days a few fundamental questions repeatedly come to mind. Who exactly is running this country today? How are decisions taken? What exactly is the Congress’ real stand on Lokpal?

Let us take a quick look at the sequence of events.  First, the UPA sent its messengers to meet with Team Anna. One would assume that these messengers had clear instructions from the powers that be. They appeared all conciliatory to Team Anna and then invited them for talks. The next day at the meeting, the Government took a hardline stance and did not agree to any of their demands. While Salmam Khurshid played the role of first messenger, the next day the hardliners, Chidambaram and Sibal called the shots. It was back to “my way or the highway” all over again. It begs the question as to who chalked out the strategy for these two meetings?

Click here to read the rest of the article in The Economic Times

As Anna persists with his fast and the Government wobbles along in rudderless fashion, the media is actively courting sound bites from the well-known. Arundhati Roy and Nandan Nilekani are two famous names that have been drawn into the feeding frenzy of late. While Ms. Roy wrote an article on the issue, Mr. Nilekani gave an interview or two. Another blog on TOI did a thorough job of exposing Ms. Roy’s inaccuracies among other things. It’s deeply disappointing to see an acclaimed author and activist indulge in hurling unsubstantiated accusations. I suspect the unprecedented rise of Anna triggered her perennial “oligarchy alert” that momentarily confused and befuddled her thinking.

Mr. Nilekani, on the other hand, while raising some interesting points which are bound to get the techies to salivate, fell rather short on other issues by indulging in broad inane generalities. For instance, he says, “you don’t fix cars by having more guys to inspect cars.” This is a naïve characterization of the anti-corruption debate. Lokpal is not about having more “inspectors.” It is about having a place to lodge complaints with the guarantee that these will be investigated. Next he says, “I am not a great believer that if you pass a law, corruption will miraculously vanish.” This is a deplorable and most annoying canard being spread by the anti-Anna brigade. Who in his or her right mind would ever say that corruption can be wiped out with a single law?

Click here to read the rest of the article in The Economic Times

I have heard that a number of Indian commercial films are made without a fully written script. In other words, the script falls into place as the movie is made. The current anti-corruption saga seems to be unfolding in a very similar fashion, with the UPA in the director’s seat. At the moment, the UPA seems to be completely clueless on how to end this film.

At every stage in this battle, Team Anna seems to be ahead of the game, and to make matters worse for the UPA, Team Anna clearly has tremendous public support that only seems to be growing by the minute. How can the UPA stem the rot? Having completely lost face multiple times in this battle, is there room for a comeback? The good news for the UPA is that the Opposition is still unable to take advantage of the situation.

Here are ten things the UPA could do to win back the hearts and minds of the people, pave the way for Rahul Gandhi, and set the Opposition on the back foot – a perfect happy ending after a lot of melodrama.

Click here to read the rest of the article in The Economic Times

Recent events have proven that there is clearly a groundswell of support for strong anti-corruption laws. The first phase of show of strength between the Government and Team Anna is now over. The government grossly underestimated Anna’s reach, credibility, and grassroots support. If attacking his credibility didn’t work, arresting him only made it worse. All the naysayers and Anna’s critics should now have their answer loud and clear. Like it or not, the vast majority of people in India back Team Anna.

Unlike what the UPA government would have us believe, the support for Team Anna is not a mass hysteria realized by false propaganda. The series of outrageous scams that have shocked the country have driven the average man on the street to rebel against a government that has failed to take effective steps to counter corruption. Team Anna has served as the catalyst to inspire our masses into action.

Click here to read the rest of the article in The Economic Times

The Congress party’s handling of the Anna Hazare’s upcoming fast leaves a bad taste in the month. It is fairly evident, as pointed out by Kiran Bedi, that the Delhi police was acting on behalf of the Government of India. The terms imposed on Team Anna by the Delhi police – arbitrary limitations on number of people, cars, days, etc. – are downright ridiculous, besides being unconstitutional. It appears as though the Govt. is trying to derail the fast by imposing random roadblocks.

When Team Anna approached the PM, instead of grabbing the opportunity to assert himself, he responded with a typical, damp squib. “Talk to the Delhi Police.” This is akin to a school principal arbitrarily telling his PT teacher that the children can’t play in the playground, and when the kids take the issue to the principal, he sends them promptly back to the PT teacher! The least the PM could do is to treat our citizens like adults and be more forthcoming on where exactly he stands on the issue.

Click here to read the rest of the article in The Economic Times

I came across a recent news report where Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys, said that politicians must have a retirement age of 60. For the longest time, we have had politicians all the way up to the upper echelons of India’s decision-making hierarchy, who are well into their 60s, 70s, and even 80s. If you apply Murthy’s newly minted law, an entire swathe of our top level political leadership across party lines will automatically be disqualified from their present positions.

Next, you have a stratum of future leaders who have grown up the ranks through traditional “goondagiri.” In most cases, these folks never got a formal education and joined the various political parties early on in their lives because it was an easy way to earn a basic livelihood. By doing nuts-and-bolts party work, they have established loyalties for various leaders and owe “everything” to their party bosses. This group, unfortunately, forms the backbone of our political establishment and if it moves up to take over the leadership of our country, then all bets are off.

 
Click here to read the rest of the article in The Economic Times