Author: Abhijit Bhattacharyya
Publication: The Statesman
Date: March 3, 2011
URL: http://thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=361093&catid=38
Punish The Guilty And Praise The Honest
DEAR Mr Prime Minister,
Since it is neither possible nor feasible
to meet you in person, one is writing through open forum. It gives one no
pleasure to write at a time when you are facing intractable problems all of
which may not be the making of the present incumbent, but at least some of
them could have been easily tackled during the past seven years of the UPA
regime. Let it be clear, however, that one is not writing at the behest of
anybody and that it is an expression of one's acute agony and anguish embedded
in the sordid happenings all around.
We, the people of India, saw you the other day on television. One liked the
manner in which a gentleman in politics tried to present matters in his perspective.
But one also disliked the way an utterly helpless Prime Minister of 1.2 billion
people, at a loss to defend, justify and explain the wrongdoings. One at least
expected a plan of action to deal with corruption which was referred to and
identified as "corruption ~ the national neurosis of India", 50
years ago by Ronald Segal in his book Crisis of India. It was reportedly banned
by the government on the charge that it was "seditious".
Mr Prime Minister, what threatens the unity,
integrity and sovereignty of India today is only a one-word subject ~ corruption.
And if Indians fail to curb, combat or confront the menace, there will be
a rerun of the days of the East India Company. Either some western or eastern
power will try to destabilise a large swathe of the country.
Being an honest man of proven track record, history is bound to judge you
harshly, if you fail. One fails to understand what prevents you from taking
action in the interest of the nation! Why is the Bhagvat Gita's advice to
be "bold, brave and wise" eluding your erudition?
Mr Prime Minister, one earnestly feels that
the present scenario of delightful high growth and a matching, yet painful,
high inflation and price rise cannot be wished away. One expects "direct
action" based on the collective wisdom of the hierarchy. It would have
been better perhaps to have a 6 to 8 per cent growth rate with a reduced 4
to 5 per cent inflation to give the masses (and they certainly constitute
at least 80 per cent of the population, if not more) some cushion in the form
of savings. The economic boom implies luminous bulbs that provide no power
to the majority. As the Prime Minister of 1.2 billion people, one also needs
to face the continuing population boom. Hence, it is absolutely essential
to look into the basic needs of the populace.
Before President Obama left for India in November
2010, he had publicly declared that he wants to "pry open" the economy
of India for the growth of American employment! Can any Indian Prime Minister
or President ever utter such blunt words on the eve of an official US visit?
One is not against foreign investment, foreign companies and foreign equity
per se, but one needs to examine how this will benefit the masses.
In recent weeks, the most disconcerting piece
of news is the three-year rigorous imprisonment awarded to a 65-year-old retired
three-star General. He has been found guilty of "procuring sub-standard
meat and other dry rations for troops deployed to Siachen mountains and other
high altitude areas". Six out of nine charges framed against him have
been established. Can one imagine the potential physical plight of soldiers
above 9000 ft consuming wheat, rice, pulses and edible oil past their expiry
date? Can one visualize how malicious, mean, dishonest and intellectually
sterile a General could be, specifically to resort to such criminal activity,
verging on treachery?
In this perspective, if one recounts the foreign
invasions over the centuries, one sincerely prays that at least 21st century
India will resist the repetition of the sordid past that was marked by rampant
corruption, weak leadership and lack of vision. If a General betrays his frontline
soldiers for greed and money, can there be any victory in battle? Will the
enemy be so unwise as to ignore the corruption chinks in India's armour? One
recalls the words of Sun Tzu, the Chinese warrior-philosopher 2500 years ago,
in his classic, The Art of War. "Supreme excellence consists in breaking
the enemy's resistance without fighting". The point is loud and clear.
If Indians can be bribed at every stage, no mission of the enemy will be impossible.
Should corruption lead to the demise of the "modern Indian state"?
Even the western media has been carping, even
sarcastic, in its reportage on corruption and governmental failure. The cover
story of the January 7-13 issue of The Guardian Weekly (London) was titled
"India's year of naked corruption". The Wall Street Journal of February
18-20 criticised India's Prime Minister in an editorial titled "Mr Singh's
lament". I quote: "India's Congress-led government has been besieged
by allegations of graft since the middle of 2010. But Prime Minister Singh
tacitly suggests it's not fair to hold him responsible when he has little
control over his own coalition government... It's no secret that Mr. Singh
has been India's weakest Prime Minister the moment he took office." The
country's overall prestige, honour and respect was in tatters with the acerbic
conclusion: "But it's more than embarrassing when the leader of the world's
most populous democracy throws his hands up at the hi-jinks of his own ministers.
Accountability is clearly breaking down. India cannot be taken seriously on
the world stage when its Prime Minister doesn't have the power to speak on
the country's behalf".
These are severely adverse comments. However, it was nice to hear that you
will not resign or retire. But the time that has been lost cannot be retrieved.
Nevertheless, you can still shore up the battered image. Be bold, brave and
wise; punish the guilty and praise the honest, Mr Prime Minister. You have
nothing to lose. It is better to leave with a trail-blazing glory than be
cursed, or forgotten for folly and ignominy. India and its PM can certainly
do better.
- The writer is a practising advocate, alumnus of the National Defence College
of India and a member of International Institute for Strategic Studies, London
