In article titled ‘Lal Sawaal – Counter offensive against pseudo-democracy needed’ (printed April 16, 2010 issue), Life Watch had raised the most serious issue that is plaguing the society, namely ‘corruption’. This is the core reason why some people are increasingly loosing trust in the system and taking to arms. The article said: “It has been almost 25 years when late Rajeev Gandhi said that of the all the money for development not even 1/5th of it reaches where it was meant to reach. This was a very serious issue that he had raised. But 25 years later, are we in a position to say that there been any improvement in the situation so far? Is it not the fact that if 1/5th of our public spent was actually being utilized 25 years ago, as claimed by late Rajeev Gandhi, today the percentage must have gone down to 1/6th or even worse. Worse, there is not even a whimper, leave alone a debate. All of us have accepted corruption as part of life.”
The article further says: “The subject of black money and stacking of this illicit money in foreign banks is raised in every election, but no party that has come to power, has ever tired to put an end to this. Politicians who become Chief Ministers for merely a few months gather illegal wealth up to worth 50000 crores, that too in impoverished states, and we expect that people of these states will remain happy and satisfied…And the Government, unable to curb the increasing outflow of public money in private pockets, has no option but to increase collection through enhanced taxes. So if merely 15% of the public spend reaches the public and the political parties in power still wish that enough work is done so as to enable them to win the next elections, they are left with no choice but to further tax those who are paying taxes. There are no complainants, as a good part of the other 85% too has been their share, but not for public use, naturally!”
“Where are we heading? We are gradually becoming like an ostrich, which when faced with adverse situation, hides its face in the sand under hope that it has safeguarded itself from threats. We have been doing this since a while now. We try to turn a blind eye to serious problems which are gradually taking our entire system to a point of no return.
In such a situation, if certain disgruntled elements, who do not possess anything that they may be afraid of loosing it, decide to take up arms, we again turn a blind eye towards their genuine problems and only talk of using force as a solution. Yes, force is the only solution against those who have resorted to the use of force. But will we be able to stop their children or the next generation from taking the same line. Till when will we continue to kill our own people?”
A similar news story in same issue of Life Watch talked of Maharashtra Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister spending Rs. 1.25 crore in a year on their food, while a good many impoverished farmers were killing themselves after failed crops.
A third article in the same issue aptly labeled ‘Corruption Special Issue’ said that it is a myth that India is a poor country. The article said: “India has more black money stacked away in Swiss banks than all the countries of the world combined…There are a whopping $1500 billion worth of foreign reserve, an amount 13 times larger than the country’s foreign debt; rethink, are we a poor country? The money is so much that if all of it is brought back, each of the Indian citizen right till the new born babe in the hospital will get about 50000 rupees each. All our foreign debt can be paid right away if the money is brought back. Even then we will be left with 12 times more reserves than all our present debt.”
Further, it said: “But is there a political Will to bring back this money? We are afraid, no!...This is to be noted that most of the wealth of Indians parked in these tax heavens is illegitimate money acquired through corrupt means.”
It is not a hidden fact anymore that politics is more of a money making business rather than selfless social work as it used to be. This is reflected in the fact that despite the fact that we saw one of the worst recessions in Independent India’s history, we read stories of the poor getting poorer, job cuts, ruined crops and company closures, our MPs continue to get richer with each passing day. The latest example is of the UP Chief Minister whose net worth has increased enormously ever since she got into the helm of affairs at Lucknow.
Between 2004 and 2009, our MPs became almost 300 per cent richer on average while life remained a struggle for nearly 400 million Indians surviving below poverty line. This information was available courtesy the 2003 Supreme Court ruling making it mandatory for all election candidates to disclose their assets, educational qualifications and any criminal background. Remember, the judgment was for disclosing the assets in the name of the candidates and did not bring to consideration the benami assets and those of relatives and friends.
Based on the declarations filed by the MPs re-contesting after 5 years, it was found that nearly 200 of the MPs reported a rise of more than 100 per cent. Mohammad Tahir, a young MP from impoverished state of Uttar Pradesh re-contesting in 2009 even reported a 9,137 per cent rise in his wealth, which included agricultural land and also a BMW, three other cars and pistols and guns.
Rahul Gandhi, the son and heir of the Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi, declared 23.3 million rupees in 2009 – an increase of 414 per cent since 2004. A bulk of that came from two shops he owns in Delhi. LK Advani reported 35.5 million rupees in 2009 as his personal wealth, which was up 173 per cent since 2004.
L. Rajagopal, a Congress MP from Andhra Pradesh who heads the Lanco Group, declared three billion rupees. Not to be left behind Santosh Mohan Dev, the Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises till 2004, reported a 718 per cent increase in his assets by 2009.
Irrespective of the plight of poor farmers and villagers, the business called politics continue to churn money in hordes. The bank balance of these politicians keep on moving skywards even if the country’s economy sinks or the foreign debt mounts.
Who will lend an ear to the real plight of people like Maoists who have lost faith in our systems of democracy when it is against the interest of those in decision-making corridors to even initiate a debate on the real reasons for their estrangement?
The article further says: “The subject of black money and stacking of this illicit money in foreign banks is raised in every election, but no party that has come to power, has ever tired to put an end to this. Politicians who become Chief Ministers for merely a few months gather illegal wealth up to worth 50000 crores, that too in impoverished states, and we expect that people of these states will remain happy and satisfied…And the Government, unable to curb the increasing outflow of public money in private pockets, has no option but to increase collection through enhanced taxes. So if merely 15% of the public spend reaches the public and the political parties in power still wish that enough work is done so as to enable them to win the next elections, they are left with no choice but to further tax those who are paying taxes. There are no complainants, as a good part of the other 85% too has been their share, but not for public use, naturally!”
“Where are we heading? We are gradually becoming like an ostrich, which when faced with adverse situation, hides its face in the sand under hope that it has safeguarded itself from threats. We have been doing this since a while now. We try to turn a blind eye to serious problems which are gradually taking our entire system to a point of no return.
In such a situation, if certain disgruntled elements, who do not possess anything that they may be afraid of loosing it, decide to take up arms, we again turn a blind eye towards their genuine problems and only talk of using force as a solution. Yes, force is the only solution against those who have resorted to the use of force. But will we be able to stop their children or the next generation from taking the same line. Till when will we continue to kill our own people?”
A similar news story in same issue of Life Watch talked of Maharashtra Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister spending Rs. 1.25 crore in a year on their food, while a good many impoverished farmers were killing themselves after failed crops.
A third article in the same issue aptly labeled ‘Corruption Special Issue’ said that it is a myth that India is a poor country. The article said: “India has more black money stacked away in Swiss banks than all the countries of the world combined…There are a whopping $1500 billion worth of foreign reserve, an amount 13 times larger than the country’s foreign debt; rethink, are we a poor country? The money is so much that if all of it is brought back, each of the Indian citizen right till the new born babe in the hospital will get about 50000 rupees each. All our foreign debt can be paid right away if the money is brought back. Even then we will be left with 12 times more reserves than all our present debt.”
Further, it said: “But is there a political Will to bring back this money? We are afraid, no!...This is to be noted that most of the wealth of Indians parked in these tax heavens is illegitimate money acquired through corrupt means.”
It is not a hidden fact anymore that politics is more of a money making business rather than selfless social work as it used to be. This is reflected in the fact that despite the fact that we saw one of the worst recessions in Independent India’s history, we read stories of the poor getting poorer, job cuts, ruined crops and company closures, our MPs continue to get richer with each passing day. The latest example is of the UP Chief Minister whose net worth has increased enormously ever since she got into the helm of affairs at Lucknow.
Between 2004 and 2009, our MPs became almost 300 per cent richer on average while life remained a struggle for nearly 400 million Indians surviving below poverty line. This information was available courtesy the 2003 Supreme Court ruling making it mandatory for all election candidates to disclose their assets, educational qualifications and any criminal background. Remember, the judgment was for disclosing the assets in the name of the candidates and did not bring to consideration the benami assets and those of relatives and friends.
Based on the declarations filed by the MPs re-contesting after 5 years, it was found that nearly 200 of the MPs reported a rise of more than 100 per cent. Mohammad Tahir, a young MP from impoverished state of Uttar Pradesh re-contesting in 2009 even reported a 9,137 per cent rise in his wealth, which included agricultural land and also a BMW, three other cars and pistols and guns.
Rahul Gandhi, the son and heir of the Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi, declared 23.3 million rupees in 2009 – an increase of 414 per cent since 2004. A bulk of that came from two shops he owns in Delhi. LK Advani reported 35.5 million rupees in 2009 as his personal wealth, which was up 173 per cent since 2004.
L. Rajagopal, a Congress MP from Andhra Pradesh who heads the Lanco Group, declared three billion rupees. Not to be left behind Santosh Mohan Dev, the Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises till 2004, reported a 718 per cent increase in his assets by 2009.
Irrespective of the plight of poor farmers and villagers, the business called politics continue to churn money in hordes. The bank balance of these politicians keep on moving skywards even if the country’s economy sinks or the foreign debt mounts.
Who will lend an ear to the real plight of people like Maoists who have lost faith in our systems of democracy when it is against the interest of those in decision-making corridors to even initiate a debate on the real reasons for their estrangement?
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