Corruption Carnage

Anna Hazare took the cue for the revolution in the biggest corrupt democracy of the world. A five day hunger strike, protests enveloping the entire country and support of millions finally brought government to its knees and yield to what always was constitutionally ours.

There were two kinds of citizens India witnessed over the past week – those who wanted the corruption to end and became a part of the movement and the others who wanted the corruption to end but had given up any hope of reform. For the latter, the government’s submission should be an eye opener to the difference a taxpayer’s involvement can make in a democracy.

The battle is half won but we should be ready to return to the battlefield when the time demands. The deep-rooted venality can be prevented to be a part of our being. If conscience cannot show us the way, a 72 year old man’s ideology and commitment might.

[Appeared in HT Edge on April 11, 2011]

The Tortured Reality

PMO, Civil Hospital will set up a board to conduct an examination on tortured teenager. DCP claims that the boy said in court that he did not have any “problems”. But all I can wonder is what was going through the police’s minds when they were mercilessly beating up the 13 year old in custody.

Gurgaon Police’s manner of persecuting an alleged motorcycle theft is appalling both constitutionally and morally. It reeks of abuse and corruption of power and helplessness of those at receiving end. The ultimate insult to the victim is the way this incident is tried to be shrugged off.

A few hollow words of damage control are not sufficient, what’s needed here is a conviction of reform. Reform of those in power and reform of citizens who let it go because it didn’t happen to them. Pressing public bodies for accountability is imperative else the offices of power, instead of serving its citizens, will be debased to dictating them.

[Appeared in HT Edge on April 04, 2011]