Fight Against Corruption: One of the Crusaders Arrested Under Corruption Charges!

In the previous post here, I said that in spite of the near-certainty of a ‘walkover’ for the Modi Government the General Elections-2024 could still be no less than a cricket thriller! And, like many of the opposition leaders who have been relentlessly accusing the Government of India of ‘vindictive politics’ I too hereby stay ‘vindicated’! Ha! Ha! The momentous day of 21^st March, 2024 started with the central government freezing the accounts of the Congress party leaving it almost penniless for the looming election expenses and ended (not really!) with the arrest of the three-time Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from his official residence around 9 o’clock in the night on corruption charges relating to the Delhi Liquor Scam that started in 2021-22 leading to the arrests of several leaders of Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). CM Kejriwal has been skipping summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) since November last year. After he refused the 9^th summons, the ED, acting upon the alleged evidence provided by a supposed stakeholder in the Scam (bribes for favors) and the subsequent refusal of the Delhi High Court to provide legal protection against arrest to Kejriwal, descended on the CM residence and arrested him following house-search, questioning and seizure of some documents. High drama continued throughout the night as the police and the rapid action forces deployed in front of the CM residence in anticipation had to disperse the huge congregation of AAP supporters who blocked the road to the ED office by dragging away many male and female supporters to the waiting buses.

Incidentally, Arvind Kejriwal was one of the most prominent disciples of Anna Hazare who launched a mass agitation against corruption in 2011 in the streets of capital Delhi, and Kejriwal finally allegedly betrayed his guru-mentor to fulfil his pre-determined political ambitions. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the anti-corruption crusader Anna has come out with support for the arrest along with a lot of lament and sadness. The AAP contested Delhi Assembly Elections in 2013 becoming the second single largest party after BJP, and eventually formed the government in association with Congress (ironical indeed, because the fight-against-corruption movement was directed against the then ruling Congress coalition UPA-2 only), and Kejriwal realizing his cherished of becoming the Chief Minister. However, just after 49 days he ‘ran away’ from the government and joined the streets to where he thought he belonged. Delhi came under President’s Rule for around a year, and in the Assembly Elections of 2015 the AAP secured a landslide of 67 seats out of 70, and Kejriwal became CM for the second time. His party won another landslide in 2020, securing 62 out of 70 with AK becoming CM for the third time. Since 2014 when the BJP-led NDA government came into power and began its reign from capital Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal has been breathing down its back in the same capital. Therefore, it’s no surprise too that the NDA Government wants AK and his AAP out of the way, come what may, many BJP leaders having labelled his as the ‘Kingpin of the Scam’!

Even as the massive AAP protests that erupted last night began to envelope the whole country today and its top leaders began getting arrested or detained, almost all of the INDIA Bloc parties and their leaders came out voicing strong support, slamming the central government for the ‘murder of democracy’ and also some of them joining Kejriwal’s party in the streets. Two main points emerge during this dramatic unfolding which, I think, seem a bit tricky and even dangerous.

First, the AAP has been maintaining that Kejriwal refused the summons for nine times, because all in the party feared that the CM could get arrested which they claimed to be the sole objective of the NDA Government. In the previous post I raised the question as to why opposition leaders like AK try to escape from the ED instead of facing the challenge and proving them innocent! While insisting on this supposed strategy last night one AAP spokesperson got mocked at as the grinning news channel anchor asked her if she were happy to be proved finally! As the spokesperson struggled with her answer, I switched the channel as the ‘affiliation’ of the anchor was rather too clear for me! I switched on another channel where I thought at least one of the anchors was only ‘partially affiliated’! the point being that such a strategy could prove to be very tricky for the party.

Second and most significantly, AAP leaders have been maintaining since last night that Kejriwal would go on working as CM from jail as he is not being convicted yet. This is just not right, irrespective of any precedents or not. This could only land the party in deeper trouble legally and it could also trigger a public outcry. There is no dearth of examples of criminal politicians operating from jails to which we don’t normally react favorably.

There could be a possible third point to emerge out the two: that Arvind Kejriwal is being regarded as the ‘sole face’ of the party which lends much credence to the media charge that Kejriwal doesn’t trust any of his associates, either in the cabinet or in the party folds. And therefore, with Kejriwal in jail, there’d be no leader at all to fit into his chair. Then, what about the crucial campaigning in the coming weeks? Who will lead the party? Besides, in a hypothetical situation, when Kejriwal manages to becomes the Prime Minister of India who would fill the CM chair, provided the AAP keeps on winning the assembly elections too! More seriously, this ‘sole face’ situation might very well lead to a logical dissolution of the AAP Government resulting in another round of President’s Rule in Delhi.

As the last reports came in, the first sitting CM to be arrested ever in India has been produced in a Delhi court where arguments from both sides are going on. The ED has asked for a 10-day custody. Earlier, the AAP withdrew its petition from the Supreme Court, because as he was arrested under the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) a bail would be most unlikely to be granted, and there are his colleagues including his deputy languishing still in the Delhi jails. Anyway, more twists and turns are only to be expected in the coming days, just like in a suspense thriller!

Politics Of Corruption: The Elliptical Embrace!

While with his crusader mentor he was a dedicated and committed worker-activist trying to root out corruption from the face of India. His principles were then in the right place as he was fondly called the right hand of his mentor. However, he had another quality—ambition, and that too was very principled. He perhaps thought that eradicating corruption was a huge task as long as one had to fight a formidable system set in place over the years by corrupt governments. Therefore he thought that the only way to fight corruption effectively had to be from within. He had to have a political entity to enter the system and fight it. And from that moment his ambition took over command keeping principles in abeyance. He left his mentor high and dry and formed a new political party. Rest is history.

Quick-fix developments and growing evidence over the last three years tend to show that Dehli Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) could be the first ever political party in the country to be able to learn the secrets of politics in the shortest possible period of time. AAP has tasted, experimented and executed all forms of politics during this period and showed an exemplary acumen in handling-manipulating-exploiting conditions, even converting non-political conditions into rampant politics. In this light, Kejriwal’s latest antic of embracing Bihar’s Lalu Prasad Yadav in the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Nitish Kumar is just one more example of practical politics. In fact, AAP has already clarified that the embrace was only a courteous gesture and that AAP is for Nitish only and never for Lalu.

Maybe for the common people it still stinks. The common people enthusiastically lapped up the idea of a corruption-free society and joined the movement by Anna Hazare en masse. They did not mind when Kejriwal took up the fight politically deserting Anna. They brought him into power allowing his even to compromise to form a ‘common people’ government. They brought him again into power with an unprecedented mandate, forgiving him his ‘compulsion’ to run away from governance in his first chance. And then all his ‘antics’ continued to be on display with his own ‘fighters’ deserting his party or being thrown out unceremoniously. And now, embracing a symbol of corruption and non-performance in full public view, and raising their hands in victory seems maybe little too much for the forgiving public. Furthermore, this is the same personality whom he criticized earlier for being corrupt. Experts say there are no absolutes in politics, but saner politicians or parties need to think twice before being part of an unholy alliance where ‘development’ is absent and only ‘ambition’ is present overwhelmingly. Unfortunately, this is what is happening at the moment with the ‘holy’ aim of thwarting a so-called communal party or alliance.

What is Bihar’s gain from its super-hyped assembly elections? Well, they only gained Nitish who has been a performer for the state. However, facts reveal that Nitish performed better when being part of an alliance with the BJP. Now, with a non-performing but very powerful ally it is bound to be uphill for Nitish to even govern. Lalu Prasad Yadav has the most potent controls in his hands in the forms of his son as Deputy Chief Minister, his other comrades as ministers and a caste-laden government to boot. Plus of course, the Congress—a party totally bankrupt of ideas and just trying to survive on ‘excuses’ provided unawares by some anti-social elements. Even then, the Bihar example is encouraging everyone in opposition to the present government across India to come up with grand alliances of corrupt, non-performing, opportunistic, rejected, degenerate and divisive political entities just to keep the BJP led NDA out. They protest against alleged ‘polarization’ of the country and encourage caste politics even getting close to supporting terrorists just to score points against the present government.

If keeping the BJP out is their idea of having a 'united India'  God help us all. 

Politics Of Corruption: AAP Wants Kejriwal To Be CM Again!

Arvind Kejriwal's ambitions were rooted to the popularity and the national appeal of the anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare. Utilizing his proximity to Anna he formed his own political entity Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and  decided it was time to part ways with his 'mentor' as the great idealistic campaigner never wanted to have anything to do with political parties. When Kejriwal was given a stunning mandate by the people in Delhi he took it as a verdict for his party and his ambitions partially fulfilled Kejriwal and his party indulged in all sorts of politicking that any political party is capable of. He did not want to accept that people in fact wanted a corruption free government and voted for a government that could ensure a solution for this burning issue of the Indian way of life. With power and popularity peaking Kejriwal did all possible under the sun to create and maintain the hype around him. 

Like a person possessed by ambition Kejriwal looked ahead to further his success after the Delhi Assembly poll. He kept his sight on the coming Lok Sabha Elections and thought a person like him could not possibly waste his time being a mere Chief Minister while the post of the Prime Minister seemed to beckon to him constantly. His AAP had already decided to contest in 400 out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats. Therefore Kejriwal decided to quit as Chief Minister and after 49 days in power let his government fall citing a whole lot of flimsy reasons. He conveniently forgot that his party betrayed his voters absolutely and made the fatal mistake of taking voters for granted. He even did not like the idea of the BJP trying to form a government in his place and so moved the Supreme Court seeking immediate dissolution of the Delhi Assembly. 

We have already told you what happened in the General Elections-2014. Apart from Kejriwal losing to Narendra Modi in Varanasi his AAP fared miserably everywhere except for the state Punjab where it managed to get 4 seats. In Delhi AAP could not get a single seat coming second to the winning BJP candidates in only three constituencies while coming on top only in 10 Assembly segments out of a total of 70 segments. People of Delhi rejected AAP in no uncertain terms and like the national trend brought in the BJP in all of the 7 seats of Delhi. At the moment Arvind Kejriwal and his party have nothing to do to stay on in media limelight. 

So then in a party meet top leaders some members of AAP mooted a proposal that Kejriwal try form a government in Delhi again and naturally take over as Chief Minister. Kejriwal was also present in the meeting and reportedly did not comment. Around twenty AAP members were in favor of this and they represent a typical political behavior. They cannot afford to stay starved of political power and clout, and so would like to grab that by hook or by crook. The so-called anti-corruption activists have come a full ironic circle now. What they are doing or trying to do now is moral corruption and India Against Corruption must take note of this. The Fight Against Corruption must now be directed against the very people who took advantage of the movement to grab political power and not having their plate full would like to devour some more. 

And to whose support they are looking for now? After receiving an overwhelming public mandate BJP would have no business of supporting some opportunists, and the party had already stated that it was for fresh elections in Delhi. Are they then looking forward to getting support again from Congress--a party so utterly rejected and bitterly dejected? Fittingly AAP got snubbed from Congress too as the party said clearly that it did not want to support again and would like to have fresh elections despite its present miserable condition. Kejriwal blossomed his political career by attacking the Congress endlessly and now he must pay heed to the same party when it tells him that he has no moral authority to try form a government in Delhi again. Anna Hazare was dead right when almost two years back he set some essential qualifications for a person wanting to fight corruption.

PS: AAP tweeted later today that some media are resorting to spreading rumors and that there was no question of forming a government again in Delhi because AAP wanted reelection in the first place.  Well, it will definitely prevent loss of sleep for many AAP loyalists! For the moment, of course! 

Politics Of Corruption: Common Man Rule In Delhi Extended As AAP Wins Trust Vote!

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal won the trust motion in Delhi Assembly on Thursday, January 2, 2014 on a voice vote, 37 in favor and 32 against. After an eventful day on the floor of the house Congress maintained its promise of outside support and with its 8 members (7 voted) ensured an AAP victory. One additional vote came from the lone Janata Dal-United member and the independent member making the mathematics clear—AAP (28) +Congress (7) +JD-U (1) + Ind.(1)=37. The main national opposition BJP had been objecting from the beginning for clear reasons—that being the single largest party in the assembly they could not or rather did not form the government; that it always maintained AAP as being opportunistic or immoral for obtaining support from the very political party (Congress) which they identified with corruption and became a political entity fighting tooth and nail against it from Anna Hazare days and that when Congress is on one side the traditional rival BJP cannot but oppose, additionally because the future of their Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi depends on how effectively they carry on their non-stop diatribe against Congress or Corruption. At the moment BJP does not seem to have any other election strategy.

In an unprecedented anti-corruption wave that changed the politics in the capital of the country AAP, in its first political venture, became the second largest party in Delhi Assembly Elections. With outside support from Congress and emboldened by a public referendum favoring formation an AAP government Arvind Kejriwal, the quintessential common man, was sworn in as the youngest Chief Minister of Delhi on 28^th December, 2013. It seemed like a scene straight out of a Bollywood blockbuster with the struggling hero finally in power maybe for a day or few more. However, now it turns out to be more real than reel. The General Elections being just round the corner and the anti-corruption movement capturing public attention Congress could ill-afford go against AAP. The party had already got the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill passed by befriending a desolate Anna Hazare and later its high command had forced the Maharashtra Government to review the Adarsh Report earlier rejected in Nagpur Session of Maharashtra Legislature. In fact, on the same day the Maharashtra Cabinet has partially accepted the Report promising legal action against the guilty officers, but failing to find any criminality involved against the six political leaders implicated by the Judicial Commission on Adarsh. The Opposition led by BJP is far from happy and is demanding a special session of the legislature. Yes, BJP too has to be against corruption, but it cannot afford to ally with Congress except for a 'larger' Lokpal Bill and also cannot afford not to allow Yeddurappa, the corruption personified of Karnataka, come back into the party. Well, the kind of corruption-compulsions doing rounds in political circles of the country! For the Congress the problem is corruption scams keep on unfolding so fast for them that by the time they take care of one more lurk round the corner.

The Common Man seems to be moving from strength to strength at the moment and why not. Honest and transparent governance has been a distant dream and now it is being realized in the capital of the country. Arvind Kejriwal broke away from Anna Hazare to enter politics with the aim of cleaning the system from within, and his party's chosen election symbol is also the broom. The Indian citizens have solid good reasons to be optimistic. The Common Kejriwal Man Government has already put an end to the rampant VIP culture by refusing to travel by official cars or to put on the red beacons. It has also fulfilled two major election promises, namely supplying about 700 liters of free water and reducing electricity rates by half for Delhi commoners. The only caution AAP needs is not to get bowled over by populist agenda and try hard on good, economically sensible and efficient governance apart from being honest, simple and straight forward.

In Hindi Aam Aadmi means ‘common man’, and AAPmeans ‘You (respectfully)’. Therefore, it is basically ‘AAP KI SARKAR’ Or ‘YOUR GOVERNMENT’.  No way for any complaints, the common man can only feel happy about it and hope AAP to spread far and wide in whole of India. Bigger and established political parties better fall in line. 

Politics: A Day Of Historical Acts!

Anna Hazare Breaking His Fast

Fight against corruption in India got the long sought after boost as Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, passed the Lokpal Bill today afternoon. The Anti Corruption ombudsman Bill or the Lokpal Bill has almost become an Act pending the President's nod. Anna Hazare, the crusader against corruption, has given up his 7-day long fast and his followers at his native village Ralegan Siddhi and all over the country are celebrating. After disastrous defeats in four assembly elections the Congress led UPA Government has something now to draw inspiration from. Maybe it was already inspired by the certainty of it as the Government countered the US in a telling manner following the most peculiar case of Devyani Khobragade. A diplomat humiliated, and a lady harassed and insulted by American cops. Thanks to the sheer absurdity the conspiracy theory is gaining ground in India. A big apology from Uncle Sam is what the whole of India want now.

One more historical Act from Nagpur. The Maharashtra Legislative Council has passed the Anti Superstition and Black Magic Bill late tonight. The contentious Bill has been debated for over 15 years without getting passed into a law and the brutal murder of Narendra Dabholkar in August this year forced the state Government to act and act fast. The lower house of the Maharashtra Legislature had already passed it with a voice vote on Friday, the 13th of December leaving the opposition political parties a lot red faced. They alleged that the Government passed it in a hurry without giving enough time for discussion. However the progressive spirit of Maharashtra finally won. The state Government assured that the Act will not hurt religious sentiments of any community and will only strive to prevent evil practices or rituals ranging from human sacrifice to frauds looting people in the name of divinity. Now Maharashtra becomes the first Indian state to have an anti Superstition or anti Black Magic Act.

And Rajya Sabha Passes The Lokpal Bill!

After a day long debate when political parties shook off their ideological differences Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, passed the Lokpal Bill or the Anti Corruption ombudsman Bill this evening. Getting it passes here was the most difficult and crucial part due to the number game, and now passing it in Lok Sabha seems to be a formality, most probably tomorrow itself. Therefore we are likely to finally have an anti corrupt law. And Anna Hazare is set to call off his fast the moment history is made.

The Indian government has accepted all recommendations made by the joint select committee to make way for a strong bill. However the debate between Lokpal and Jokepal Bill continues. No human being is perfect, so how could a Bill be perfect. And in India you may have the absolutely perfect plan, but implementation in this god forsaken country is always typically imperfect.

Anyway, we can still celebrate with the fact that we do at least have a law against the corrupt. How many of them are going to be punished nobody knows. Neither Anna Hazare nor the Aam Aadmi Party.

Politics Of Corruption: Lokpal Bill Vs Jokepal Bill!

If the Anti-corruption Ombudsman Bill or the Lokpal Bill is passed by Rajya Sabha on Monday and it finally becomes a law who will get or take or claim the credit? An interestingly competitive game seems to be picking up fast. On the positive side due to this game the Bill is almost sure to be passed.

Politics of the most unprecedented or even weird kind is unfolding in Delhi. Normally after almost winning an election members of the concerned political party start fighting between themselves for the prime posts and indulges in horse trading to get the magic majority. But this time in Delhi no party is willing to take the plunge. BJP, just 3 short of majority, refused to try form the government saying it would support Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that stuck to its principle of not extending or taking support of any party. Congress offered unconditional support to AAP last evening. Today Kejriwal did go to meet the Lt Governor after being invited to discuss formation of government. And in one more unpredictable act he asked for ten days. He questioned why big political parties are willing to extend 'unconditional support' and what could be the real motives? Kejriwal showed letters written by AAP to Congress and BJP listing out 18 points asking if 'unconditional support' meant Congress and BJP would support AAP on all these. He also said that in these ten days AAP would hold hundreds of public meetings trying to find what the citizens want AAP to do. AAP called the present form of the Lokpal Bill as Jokepal Bill. Is Kejriwal trying to milk his moment of glory rather too hard or trying to be the worthiest propagator of the 'real' Lokpal Bill?

Anna Hazare, on the fifth day of his fast, calls the to-be-passed Lokpal Bill as the right one. In fact, there was an open spat between him and AAP in a public meeting at Ralegan Siddhi yesterday when Anna asked an AAP elected member to get out for interrupting someone's speech. Well, if anyone needs to be given the final credit it must naturally be the anti-corruption crusader. That he is increasingly feeling insecure is the inevitable result of this pulsating brand of politics of corruption.

Meantime Congress has announced its strong resolve to get the Bill passed come Monday. BJP, attacking Congress as it must do always, is also making preparation to extend the necessary support for passing the Bill.

We, the hapless beholders of the holiest democratic traditions, must not bother who gets the credit and how. We should only bother about history being made finally or if at all.

Fight Against Corruption: Anna Hazare Back In Fast Action!

Anna Hazare congratulated his erstwhile chief lieutenant in the movement against corruption, Arvind Kejriwal for the latter's spectacular debut political performance in Delhi assembly election. He said that Kejriwal would have become Delhi Chief Minister if he had his continued support. Anna also reiterated his earlier observation that elections could be won without tons of money. But then, Anna would never become politically aligned or support any political party. We saw how pained he was when Kejriwal decided to form a political party and how he almost gave up his movement. However, it is obvious the crusader against corruption took some positives out of this development. Anna decides to resume his mission.

Anna Hazare announced his resolve to continue the fight for the much debated Anti-corruption Ombudsman or Jan Lokpal Bill. And today, the mass leader began one more of his famous fasts unto death at his native village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra. Other reasons are also there for his decision. After BJP's 4-1 triumph in the state assembly elections-2013 the Congress led ruling coalition is reeling under tremendous pressure and the winter session of the Indian Parliament is underway.

Kejriwal's party remains true to its commitment of not forming government with or support any 'corrupt' political party. BJP, the single largest party in Delhi, says its first priority is to make Delhi administration corruption free. Now with added pressure from Anna Hazare and General Elections looming over the horizon Indian citizens could realistically hope for some action on corruption. It is really immaterial whether political parties fight corruption by choice or by being forced.

BJP Beats Congress 4-0, South Africa Beat India 2-0!

It was expected though not entirely predictable--in both cases.

Over the last few years Congress came to be identified with corruption thanks to various scams of the ruling coalition. Anna Hazare started the movement against corruption and rocked the whole of India--particularly Delhi. The BJP constantly attacking Congress on corruption and moving around Anna not exactly supporting or opposing him somewhat escaped being clubbed with corruption or Congress. Then BJP launched Narendra Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate. Add to it the unabated inflation. For the four states that went to Assembly polls in November-December, 2013 these factors possibly led to a wave for change with record voting percentage in most states and BJP beat Congress 4-0, almost. It was a sweep in BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh and a grand comeback in Rajasthan. BJP ruled Chattisgarh was also retained after a tough Congress fight that happened largely due to the recent Naxal attack on its leaders. Arvind Kejriwal who broke away from Anna Hazare in the right time to become political created waves in Delhi poll capturing the second position and thus depriving BJP a clear majority. Congress that ruled Delhi for 15 years came a miserable third. Counting was taken up on Sunday, the 8th of November, with BJP leading 4-0 in a sort of run up to General Election-2014.

Touring South Africa with 6 successive Series wins to boot India lost the second one day international cricket match against South Africa too. Yet to find answers to South African pacers India again lost by a huge margin chasing a total of 280/6. South Africa beat India 2-0 in Durban on Sunday, the 8th of November to win the ODI Series.

India: Holy Campaigners Fall For Power And Clout!

The so-called holy campaigners or even ‘crusaders’ are falling into the time-tested Indian mix of power-and-clout trap. Always crying for high morale values and attacking and exposing the powers-that-be with stings and other operations one of such ‘crusading’ media agencies, web magazine Tehelka (means 'uproar') finds itself with the sinners it fights against thanks to the overpowering drive of power accumulated which creates enough clout for immunity. Always crying for a corruption free society and corruption free politics anti-corruption activists who did not think much of their philosopher-friend-guide leader to go on form a separate political party, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP—common man’s party) by Arvind Kejriwal, find themselves deep in the same rot created by power and clout and yet show an adamant bout of immunity.

Right, in India you just need to chase a noble cause—causes are not at all hard to find in a fast degenerating society—, make a nationwide campaign, win public confidence, assume enough power by pitching public opinion against the rulers thus adding blackmail and finally create the clout for you which makes you immune to whatever you do later. We have said several times on these pages that these ‘holy’ campaigners consider themselves gods and above law, and thus empowered they laugh away all kinds of possible charges or accusations against them as ‘conspiracies’ by the ruling power that is necessarily and always corrupt, inapt and rotten.

The founder editor of Tehelka.com, Tarun Tejpal, tries to molest or rape a fellow journalist in Goa during an event. The victim files a complaint against the editor with the management and, in utter disregard of stringent laws for crimes against women for which the media fought so intensely the management tries to cover it up internally. The editor thanks to the power and clout he had built up during his ‘fiery’ career resigns for six months as self-inflicted ‘punishment’ and claims that the victim is satisfied with the measures taken. The management never lodged a police complaint as if there was no law in the country, right no law can exist for the powerful, and just about succeeded but for leaked emails. Luckily for the victim and India their own ‘recuse-exercises’ emails got leaked and Goa Police took up the case lodging an FIR for rape against Tarun Tejpal. As the investigations get going reports came from the victim that inhibition and harassment are being applied to pressurize her to reconcile to the management ‘justice’ formula.

Chief Lieutenant of Anna Hazare fight against corruption movement, Arvind Kejriwal, formed his own political party AAP against his mentor’s wishes and went ahead to contest state Assembly polls.  Suddenly, a media portal did a sting operation and the videos showed clearly how AAP leaders bargained for ‘quid pro quo’ promising action for money and ready to accept cash in return. And predictably, the AAP leadership laughed away the video as ‘doctored’ and ‘distorted’. Right, thanks to the power and clout they have accumulated riding on public unrest and faith they brazenly term this too as ‘politically motivated conspiracy’.

Well, the hapless citizens of the country can hardly get the actual truth in any case, but they can be cautious enough while casting their votes. The all-encompassing degeneration of the Indian society tragically seems to be complete with the media itself and the corruption-free political party succumbing to the obvious temptations. At the moment India need incorruptible saviors who have to be internally programmed never to fall for temptations of power and clout. But to fight Indian elections you always need huge amounts of money and influence. Irony overpowering irony!

Right To Reject: One Historic For Voters, One Shocker From Rahul!

The Supreme Court of India gave a historic judgment today. The public litigation petition demanding the Right to Reject for voters had been pending for last nine years and Anna Hazare during his Movement against Corruption in 2011-12 made a lot of hue and cry for this too. Today the Supreme Court put its seal of approval on this. Now voters can reject all the candidates in his constituency if s/he thinks all of them are crooks and useless.  There will be a new option in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), ‘None Of The Above’, so that all candidates of all parties could thereby be rejected by the voter. Exactly when the EVMs are going to be adjusted or the date of effect to this decision is a matter of pure speculation at the moment.

This is basically a negative vote, but the apathetic voters now need not sit at home and abstain from their constitutional duty. They can go to the polling booths and exercise their Right to Reject by voting for the new option. Maybe Voters’ Apathy could finally be tackled effectively. This landmark judgment has huge dimensions in terms of its possible repercussions, cascading impact and the final result. Politicians of all parties have been very guarded in their reactions and justifiably so. Already haunted by the words like ‘split votes’ or ‘hung houses’ they are scared indeed at the core of their hearts as to what this may finally lead them and the country to. The Supreme Court verdicts must be respected and followed at all costs. The consternation is more due to the Assembly Elections lined up for December, 2013 and then the real humdinger of a General Election in April-May, 2014. The Supreme Court very clearly points out that voting is a constitutional right while the right to reject is always a fundamental right. For all lesser mortals it is indeed a cause for great celebration.

Although not corroborated by facts the Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi seemed to have been so very much inspired by this ‘right to reject’ that it immediately guided him making a brief appearance at an explosive press conference and rejecting the Ordinance on convicted politicians promulgated by his own government. At the Press Club in Delhi along with Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken Rahul said that the Ordinance was complete nonsense and that ‘it must be torn up and thrown in the dustbin’. He elaborated that all political parties made such compromises to suit their ends and his own party made a mistake in this same way. Just before making a dramatic exit Rahul was quick to add that this was his ‘personal opinion’. In the process he managed to shock literally everyone of all hues and colors—his own UPA government, all opposition parties, all varieties of the media and all citizens at large. Ajay Maken, continuing the press conference, supported Rahul by saying that his word is Congress policy. Several other Congress ministers followed with their support to their future poll prospect. That it has caused one more profound embarrassment for the distressed UPA government and finally the  Prime Minister who is presently in the USA is anybody’s safe guess. Some News channels have already started raging debates if the Prime Minister should really resign now. The opposition political parties including BJP especially seem to be fighting to come out of daze to properly react.

The Union Cabinet on 24^th September had cleared the Ordinance to negate another landmark judgment of the Supreme Court that struck down a provision in the electoral law which allowed a convicted MP and MLA to continue in their post if they make an appeal to a higher court within three months and ruled that if convicted for a crime with a punishment of more than two years the concerned elected members must be disqualified instantly. This verdict was hailed in all sensible quarters in the country as an effective step to counter politicians with criminal backgrounds. The Government claimed that an all-party consensus had been reached on August 13 on this issue of negating the SC verdict and the BJP was very strongly in favor of legislation. Since the bill could not be passed in Parliament the Government took the Ordinance route. In this crazy political times the BJP vociferously opposed the Ordinance and yesterday represented with the President Pranab Mukherjee to send it back. This BJP move had tremendously angered the Government who termed it as the party’s consistent ‘double standards’. Now, with Rahul Gandhi coming out in opposition it is to be seen what the Congress led UPA government finally tells the President to do. In all, both these momentous events augur well for the lesser mortals of the country like us.

Meanwhile, the eloquent Information and Broadcasting Minister, Manish Tewary, seemed to in his elements at another press conference in the capital today just preceding the Rahul one. When asked by journalists to comment on the recent statement of Narendra Modi that ‘CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) is going to fight the coming general elections, not the Congress party’, the minister said, “At times the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi ends up speaking the truth only. Indeed, the CBI is going to fight the elections. The ‘Communal Bureau of Instigation’ is getting ready on his behalf for this’. And then he smiled, of course.

Politics: Corruption And Punishment!

Even as the worst crisis for the ruling UPA-2 coalition government continued to gain momentum every day this week witnessed two huge days for the media fraternity—Wednesday, the 8^th of May 2013, and Friday the 10^thof May 2013. That momentous Wednesday was a picture of ecstasy and agony—a political study in contrasts. And, on Friday yesterday heads rolled as expected and anticipated on a daily basis.

The main national opposition BJP has been chasing the Congress led UPA-2 Government relentlessly, tirelessly and also ambitiously on the issue of corruption for the last at least two years. In its obsessed aim of cornering the Government the BJP, basically a political party that ruled India earlier, even did not bother joining hands with the anti-corruption activists—at times with Anna Hazare and with Baba Ramdev at other. But, the BJP was routed in the Assembly Elections of the southern state of Karnataka the counting for which was taken up on Wednesday for running a corrupt and non-performing government there. The root cause being BS Yeddyurappa, a veritable symbol of corruption, defecting from BJP and forming a separate political entity thus splitting the votes as well as creating a somewhat anti-corruption wave in the state.  

Congress party of the scam and corruption infested UPA-2 got a landslide victory and was in a position to form the government on its own. This was the ecstasy for the beleaguered national party—the highlights being the prevention of further corruption through possible horse trading on a hung verdict and the marginalization of Yeddyurappa who naturally wanted to be a kingmaker. However, almost simultaneously that Wednesday the agony came in the form of the Supreme Court of India slamming UPA-2 for meddling with the Coalgate report of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to the apex court and making the premier investigating agency of the country a ‘caged parrot’. The position of the Law Minister became untenable after those scathing observations and the Railway Minister was already in the dock for Railgate. Pressure mounted on UPA-2  to punish the indicted ministers. The ministers’ alleged closeness to the Prime Minister made it all the trickier for the ruling coalition. The stock responses like ‘Let investigations take the due course’ or ‘The matter is sub-judice’ failed to convince anyone. 

Mounting media and public pressure forced the Government to take the much awaited action. Two top cabinet ministers were sacked within just one hour last evening, the Friday we mentioned. Now, this move can very well be interpreted as taking cue from the so-called anti-corruption wave of Karnataka Poll and punishing the corrupt, and if it is so things are not to be merrier for the BJP. Because, to try coming back to power in its only southern bastion, Karnataka, the BJP still wants Yeddyurappa badly. If it does take him  back it will be criticized as welcoming back corruption for political ends. Therefore, the citizens of this hapless country stand to benefit by default if the issue of anti-corruption becomes the main plank for 2014 General Elections.

However, politics is politics. For the latest the BJP and the Left parties are now, as expected, after the Prime Minister of India demanding his resignation.

Delhi Gangrape: Spontaneous Protests All Over India!

The ‘human’ beings of India have woken up to the brutal reality of the society they live in and erupted into angry and anguished protests and demonstrations held all over the country over the brutal gangrape of a 23 year old girl on a moving public bus in New Delhi Sunday night . As the victim continued to be critical the Rape capital of India saw huge outbursts of people—mostly the young generation including women in large numbers—in several localities of the city demanding answers from the government and local authorities in the basic issues of security to women, quick justice and prevention of crimes.  The incensed people in hundreds and thousands held demonstrations before the residence of the Delhi Chief Minister, Delhi police headquarters and in other high security VVIP areas. Police had to resort to water canons to disperse the protestors. As per latest reports protests are still going on across the country.

One contrast came up instantly. The kind of security provided to VIPs and VVIPs became very clear as their forces tried to keep them secure from the common people. There has always been a shortage of police and security personnel across India and a huge chunk of the forces available are used up for VIP security. So, how much security is actually available for the mothers, daughters, sisters and wives of the common people? One news channel raised a pertinent question as to would all the big political leaders who shook up Parliament yesterday debating death penalty to the rapists care to release a percentage of their private security forces for the common people? That would make more policemen available per thousand of common people.

All across disturbed ‘human’ beings demanded death for all rapists and eve teasers. As far as the debate on ‘capital punishment’ is concerned there is instant agreement but for one crucial difference. The punishment must be fast tracked and instant if possible, and should not be left to rot for years and years in the due process of the courts, appeals and mercy petitions. And that no single rapist or eve teaser must escape from the law and roam free.

The big question is whether of this mass upsurge against criminals will be able to keep the momentum going for a long time to force the governments bring in stringent laws, creation of a secure environment for women and prevention of increasing crimes against women. We witnessed similar a mass outrage against corruption last year under Anna Hazare, but slowly it petered out as politics grew within. Hopefully, the momentum this time would keep going because this malady of the subhuman entities invading our society runs deeper and affects or threaten to affect the families and kin of both the corrupt and non-corrupt classes. 

Keep to the basics this time. Do not entertain sex discrimination issues, do not allow gender bias to come in and do not indulge in diabolical egoism. Untie on mutual love and trust, and stay united, to defeat the demons and the fiends trying to eat up our society. The subhuman fiendish progression must be stopped at all costs. Before it is too late!

The Indian Political IQ!

Indian politics has entered the most bizarre stage on show since the last two years thanks mainly to two crucial factors. First, a series of unprecedented scams terribly undermined the ruling coalition government and the opposition political parties saw a godsend opportunity in this to corner the government for lucrative gains or power in the next General Elections in 2014. Second, the anti-corruption movement by Anna Hazare and party that made the skeletons cascade out of the cupboard affecting one and all in politics irrespective of ideologies or party affiliations. Politicians and upstarts created out of the anti-corruption fight made the scenario worse.

Endless allegations, charges and counter-charges, litigation and mushrooming court cases, character assassinations, personal banalities and a gleefully indulgent media ushered India into its most sordid era of politics. Maybe the nip of uncertainty in the atmosphere and a haunting apprehension made the politicians psychic and unbalanced. They uttered what they should never have, did what they should never have and kept or left companies that they should never have.

Finally it had to boil down to the IQ levels on display all around. None other than the President of the main national opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Nitin Gadkari, found himself neck-deep in an IQ controversy. Finding another opportunity in the anti-corruption movement to corner the government Gadkari and his party initially shared the ideology and the platforms with Anna Hazare and other anti-corruption activists. But he and his party reeled when some activists-turned-politicians pounced on him and his party for corrupt practices. The BJP had hardly any option but to defend its President stoutly.

Still under attack and investigations Gadkari created another huge controversy when he wanted to show his eloquent and scholarly articulation so unnecessarily. In a public function he compared the IQ levels of Swami Vivekananda and underworld fugitive Don Dawood Ibrahim. Assuming the role of an astute psychologist Nitin Gadkari said that basically the IQ levels of these persons could have been the same, but one used it for noble and spiritual reasons and the other used it for criminal and destructive purposes. It was a nationwide rage.

His party defended him again overcoming friction within with key party functionaries either resigning or criticizing bitterly. Charges and denials chased each other endlessly. Gadkari insisted he meant only a basic point that people with similar intelligence or brains do not necessarily follow the same noble way.

Now to the moot point. If the Indian politicians are so concerned about IQ levels and their uses why not they themselves use theirs for the right cause? Why they do not see good reasons in simple good reasons? Why their IQ levels or brains or intelligence always fail to determine what is right for the country? Why even the ‘Left’ part of the brains so hopelessly clueless?

India stands to benefit immensely if its politicians strike the right IQ level!

Black Money In Swiss Bank Accounts: The Fourth Kejriwal Expose Installment!

New Delhi, November 09, 2012, 1.30 PM. Time for anti-corruption campaigner cum politician Arvind Kejriwal to release the fourth expose installment. And dot on time the India Against Corruption (IAC) functionary  added one more to the land of allegations…call it India. This time it was against black money allegedly stashed in alleged Swiss bank accounts owned allegedly by over 700 Indians with the Government allegedly helped by HSBC, industrialists and ministers allegedly not allowing it come into the country.

The issue of black money has been doing rounds in this country since time immemorial. Various political parties when not in power raised this issue in various times asking questions while the political parties in power did the answering. The anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare started the movement on the general issue and Yoga guru Baba Ramdev was quick to join in attacking the specific issue of black money. But it always needs Arvind Kejriwal to bring it out in the open for the hungry media and for the affected parties to deny or the unaffected to demand probes.

Kejriwal is clever enough to keep the suspense on by equally distributing his expose installments between various politicians of various affiliations with their presumed partners so that nobody knows who he is going to expose next. And, each time, he leaves it at the allegations level only never trying hard enough for providing real proof so that each installment drama continues till the next.

As usual, the BJP, cornered in the last installment and still sweating from it, has already rejoiced since the affected party was the government along with its paraphernalia this time. The main national opposition party slammed the government demanding serious probes into the Kejriwal allegations. As usual, the affected parties have started crying denials counter alleging that all these are false allegations. The 4^th installment drama is set to last for a long time since Kejriwal made very serious allegations about the country’s economic sovereignty being threatened by the black money cover-up corroborated by his six major demands including disbanding operations of the international bank, HSBC, in India.

We are all acquainted with the EMI syndrome in our loan liabilities. Now we can rightfully create another syndrome called the EKI meaning Equated Kejriwal Installment. I think we are justified in using ‘equated’, because as we have already explained that Kejriwal has been equating and evenly distributing his installments among the corrupt parties…sorry allegedly corrupt parties.

 

The nationwide wait begins now for the 5^th EKI. Who is the next beneficiary…sorry the victim? Right, allegedly! The land of allegations needs some more! 

The Kejriwal Show: Media Hype Incredible And Unprecedented!

Ex Team Anna member, India Against Corruption (IAC) activist and politician Arvind Kejriwal unfolded his second biggest expose drama dot at 5 pm today in New Delhi as promised. He made a departure from the usual ‘Congress for Corruption’ theme as promised and attacked Nitin Gadkari, President of the main national opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as promised, and as speculated for the last two days by the media.

The media craze for the eagerly awaited show and the accompanying hype had to be seen to be believed. Not only that the show was taken live across the news channels, but the live telecast started hours before the show with fleets of reporters in different places and plethora of experts sitting inside the studios. One prime national news  channel had a literal countdown to the show—1 hour to go before Kejriwal exposes Gadkari or whoever…30 minutes to go…15 minutes to go…2 minutes to go…Bang! Bang! Bang! Even the Anna Hazare movement at its peak could not match this hype.

And why not? Something unique is happening to Indian politics. Obvious and well known or suspected irregularities, murky but expected goings-on in the democratic underbelly and much speculated and reported corruption statistics of the largest democracy of the world are being burst in the open like firecrackers by the unique avatar  of an ‘aam admi’ (common man) politician. The craze is only natural considering in particular the hugely enjoyable aftereffects from the established politicians.

More documents…more charges…more articulation! And in reply more denials…more counter-charges more vehemence. The aam admi avatar declares the facts or allegations before his aam countrymen. The accused calls it ‘laughable charges’ or ‘stunts for garnering publicity for the new political party’! Other political parties join in by ‘Gadkari must resign’ or ‘I told you so much before’! One party calls IAC as the B wing of the Opposition and some other calls it as the conspiracy wing of the government.  And Kejriwal raises the question ‘Is the national opposition party the actual opposition or a business partner of the governments’! Has anyone heard such mind-boggling utterances made in the open before or ever?

The real climax to this high voltage reality show would be the coming into power of the aam admi political party. A climax that nobody at the moment would be humanly able to perceive or visualize. The lure of this ultimate mystery is bound to captivate anyone, why only the media! Brickbats set to accelerate! 

Politics Of Corruption: Suspense, Twists, Drama, Surprises…More!

Corruption is not new to India. Our country has been a front runner in this field of socio-political malady in the global perspective. It was, it still is and will remain so in the near future. Our country has been the biggest Exchange for favors, nepotism and quid pro quo deals. The more the clout and influences one amasses the more capable is one  in granting big favors and extracting bigger favors. This has been the way of life rather than being a crucial part of corruption. No, this is not being negative or cynic, this is being realistic.

But the commonest forms of corruption like having to give bribes for every possible existential act on this earth and looting of public money did torment a major chunk of the population. Therefore when Anna Hazare started a campaign against corruption and demanded a stringent anti-corruption Lokpal or Ombudsman Bill they welcomed it heartily. Then, as we have seen in the pages of this site, politics started taking over the movement and Anna’s main lieutenants left the crusader in the lurch for the greener pastures of politics.

Anna Hazare's chief lieutenant, once publicly secure in politics, began his shows of suspense and drama on a daily basis. In prime media focus of the national capital he began to expose people in power and high connectivity submitting ‘proofs’ lavishly. But in Indiano proof is enough proof as the most rabid criminals committing crimes in full public view can still go on fighting legal battles for years and years. The ensuing process of countering ‘proofs’ with ‘proofs’ and 'charges' with 'charges' adds the drama and unravels twists and surprises making his shows and the sequels entertaining for all and all time favorites for the media. But like the affected political parties by his exposes the chief lieutenant’s interest is also politics. If finally he is able to provide a political alternative it’s okay for the moment, but if he fails in that the voters of this country are bound to be caught in the dilemma of the century throwing the gates open for anarchy.

The chief lieutenant would need relative honesty and loyalty desperately if he wants to succeed in his mission of capturing power and changing the system. But honesty is fast becoming a thing long forgotten and loyalty is the hardest one to be found in India. You must have seen in umpteen movies how even in crimes people are not loyal. When the partners in crime finally succeed making the heist they indulge in killing-each-other spree so that only one could enjoy the booty. In real life too you must have found how some people are not honest even in corruption, meaning they will not do your job even after devouring your bribes.

What is the point in going on exposing the species that is in absolutely no danger of extinction? And even if someone gets really nailed by the ‘proofs’ it will only increase the ever expanding burden on the Indian courts with no ‘nailing’ verdicts expected in years to come. For a change why not try highlight examples of honesty, of course if you manage to find one. But politics has its own logic and tactics. If an eminent elected representative says that the amount of money involved is too small to justify a certain alleged corrupt act other politicians do listen and try going for acts involving larger amounts so as to avoid possible inferiority complex, if we can say so!

Come tomorrow, the chief lieutenant is set to expose a much bigger one! The suspense drama is set to continue. Where do we go from here? Well, why bother, better enjoy the show!