The Pretense of Generosity

Government is getting too comfortable at pulling the strings of the citizens at its own whims. The relaxation of orders to curb protests at Jantar Mantar and the India Gate highlights this fact. The withdrawal coming within 24 hours of banning protests at prominent public spots in the capital proves that it is just a power gimmick making people realizing their ‘place’.

The imposition of Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code was never justified in the first place. Certainly not for the peaceful protests and strikes that were expected after the sham that was made of the Lokpal Bill. The lifting of the sanctioned curb before the parliament session starts on August 1 is just a democratic mockery we are being fed.

It is in our hands to make the most of such relaxations. A little conviction of the reform should all one should need to bring down the government to justice. The window to the path of the revolution has just opened up.

In Deep Water

Two years in term and there is no respite for UPA government. Strings of accusations keep pouring in as new facts get unearthed every day.

Dayanidhi Maran’s involvement in 2G scam is one such skeleton UPA can’t wait to bury to prove a point of governance integrity. But compromising Maran would be a too little too late response for absolution from all that UPA has managed to get into.

Maran just happens to be a piece of jigsaw puzzle that will ultimately solve to be corruption at absolute government levels. Without involvement at the top it’s impossible to pull off a scam of such magnitude and cover it up for so long.

The only saving grace for this government can be through a thorough cleanup of all its deeds. Waiting for CBI to prosecute and take action is just getting too tiring for the entire country.

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]

Blacked out

“What the hell is going on in this country?” the question Supreme Court slapped the government apparently found a lukewarm response in its doing. Hassan Ali Khan walks a free man on a conditional bail still evading a whopping 2.7% of India’s entire GDP.

Ali happens to be just the tip of the iceberg of the black money fiasco that has enveloped the entire nation. The spineless response of the government to this issue has stripped down the whole machinery of the trust it deserves.

If the required stand is not taken, the disgruntled masses will revolt. And when the common man steps in to take charge, dynasties perish. It is about time the government should open its eyes and see what its inaction has done. It is the only way it can hope to restore the faith of the people it has lost.

[Appeared in HT Edge on March 14, 2011]

Centrally Vile and Corrupted

Nothing can be worse than eighteen year old doing that comes to bite you.

Six months back, while protests went on, CVC was sworn-in and a blind eye was turned to an entire nation waiting for answers.

Mr. P. J. Thomas’ past and Supreme Courts verdict can prove to be the last nail in the coffin of ruling spree of Congress. While Mr. Prime Minister cut a sorry figure, the opposition slammed any chance of voters overcoming by their well-known feeling of “letting go”.

The episode is downright sad but portrays the ugly face of Indian Politics. This ugliness is rooted deep within because it is a result of over 63 years of unquestioned plundering of public resources and shameless mockery of the constitution.

SC’s ruling has given the much needed resistance to those in power. It proved that no matter how high the office is, it has to be morally upright first to serve the nation.