This is a follow up of my previous article “Use and misuse of public funds” published on 11 June 2015. The recent nationwide condemnation of lavish subsidy for Parliament canteen is typical. We have tolerated the misuse and abuse of the many privileges and perks they enjoy. The time has come for people to tell them forcefully that they are not maharajas of the feudal era but elected representatives of the people who they have promised to serve and not be served! The first change required in mindset of power drunk lawmakers, obviously is in their arrogance which is due to the ‘honorable’ VIP status. Not withstanding the Supreme Court ruling on the subject, there is still a long list of elected representatives who go around expecting everyone to give way. At airports they are not frisked and move on the fast track through security channels, delay flights etc jeopardizing general security and causing much pain to others!
Bihar MP Pappu Yadav many years in jail was permitted to violate all the jail rules. His in flight behavior of lifting his leg and allegedly threatening an air hostess to mop the floor below was disgusting. Aviation minister Gajapathi Raju boasted of carrying prohibited match boxes on flights exempting himself from safety rules that all passengers must obey. Just one year in power, the PMO has diluted most checks and balances in Institutions. The BJP backing of the Rajasthan CM and Foreign Minister in “Lalit Gate”, Pankaja Munde in alleged scam and Smiti Irani qualification false information are ominous signs. So is the shocking Vyapam scam where more than 36 witnesses and others involved, from Madhya Pradesh governor’s son to Dean of Medical College and investigating journalist, all mysteriously die/commit suicide! Involved are reportedly top politicos, bureaucrats and VIPs involving around Rs 2000 crore in bribes!
To quote BJP senior leader L.K.Advani “Arrogance breeds authoritarianism. Anyone who comes to power does not want to loose it. I am opposed to all kinds of dictatorship”. The Sangh Parrivar would be wise to heed Advani’s advice. The people forced the government to scrap RP 2011. A task force was formed including Charles Correa and another eminent town and country planner Edgar Rebeiro. The government disregarded the hard work they put in and their advice, with Edgar resigning in protest. The powers that be succumbed to other forces for selfish reasons. With no RP2021, mega constructions, grandiose plans and ODPs under the guise of development continued, generally ruining Goa and Goans, architecturally, environmentally and morally! Following is a case study of how politicians and bureaucrats handle personal corruption. Registrar of Cooperative Societies P.K.Patidar was caught red handed accepting a bribe in 2010. As is usual the authorities suspended him and in due course slowly brought him back in various capacities, until he landed up as Director Provedoria. He retired honorably in 2014. It is only now in June 2015 he has been charged by the ACB and was promptly released on bail. This is the typical procedure usually followed when officials are indicted after being caught. Justice keeps being denied with impunity in collusion with the authorities who get away with everything. Surely this is not our mandate for them?
A minister in the Samajwadi Party and his goons immolate a “pesky” journalist with the help of policemen who are duly suspended, but minister protected by the government. The Supreme Court can even be intimidated regarding selection of NJAC members whilst junking the Collegium system. The judicial system is much too slow and neither lawyers nor judges appear to make the systemic changes required! The Election Commission wants both Congress and BJP penalized for FRCA violations.
The government ignores this but heavy handedly prevents NGOs from receiving foreign funding! In Delhi the BJP will not let the ACB or bureaucrats they appoint be indicted for corruption and go even to the extent of 11 days garbage pile up (never mind Swatch Bharat policy) resultant of non payment of wages by the municipal corporation BJP controls. The courts have to adjudicate. The people will naturally prefer corruption and the old system that somehow got their garbage cleared.
BJP and Congress exhibit bad examples by being constantly at loggerheads with each other, never mind the nation’s interest. Due to the PM’s silence on reigning in the RSS and hardliners who are tom tomming a Hindu Rashtra, with overt and covert actions unchecked, the minorities feel threatened and cannot trust the government. However, consider International maiden Yoga Day, which demonstrated our emulating their bad example! The Muslims have occasion to sight the moon, bow in Namaz. Some have reservations about Surya Namaskar, the Christians about OHM and Sunday. The Centre made attendance voluntary and kept out Surya Namaskar and OHM. Those who cannot attend mass on Sunday can do so on Saturday or Sunday evening? Fr Joseph Pereira founder of Kripa Foundation elucidates Yoga has a spiritual dimension and that the second Vatican Council welcomed this! We have to educate/isolate the Christian, Hindu. Muslim and other fundamentalists! They cannot see God in nature and in fellow human beings, and are in fact contributing to destroying them.
(The author is a
retired naval officer.)
This churlish behavior and constant needling by minority of majority community and vice versa is not in national or anyone’s interest! Let us gracefully cooperate and benefit from change to something good. Yoga is now generally acknowledged worldwide by the medical and scientific community, for skeptics there is evidence from thousands of cured patients. Religion divides; if you give it a chance, perhaps Patanjali Yoga and its development will unite nations with physically, mentally and spiritually healthy, balanced individuals who will not misuse the mandate given to them. To conclude, it is obvious that mankind needs inner engineering and when ‘I’ gets actually replaced by ‘We’ (sub ka sath sub ka vikas) even illness becomes wellness!
(The author is a retired naval officer.)
