Political Diary
New
Delhi, 26 October 2013
Walking On Hot Coal
MOBOCRACY NOT
DEMOCRACY
By Poonam I Kaushish
“Democracy is a kingless regime infested by many kings, who
are sometimes more exclusive, tyrannical, and destructive than one, even if he
be a tyrant,” sarcastically commented Italian Benito Mussolini in 1932. Cut to
2013, it fits Republic
of Scams India like a
glove. Wherein a buffeted and bludgeoned hapless Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
helplessly throws up his hands and asserts, “This is how democracy is run in
our country.”
Showcasing a new low in the Rs 1.86 lakh crores sizzling
Coalgate amidst the Rahul-NaMo vote-bank raucous crackle. Thanks to indicted
former Coal Secretary’s Parakh’s explosive 14-page rebuttal in March 2005 to Cabinet
Secretary’s showcause notice following then
Coal Minister JMM’s Sibu Soren’s complaint to the Prime Minister seeking
“disobedient” Parakh’s transfer for gross insubordination,
disrespectfulness and by-passing him.
Unraveling explosive
political dark secrets,
the ex-Coal secretary asserts, “If respect for
political leadership implies complying with oral orders or irrational
instructions or recording notings that suits the
Minister's interest as against public interest, I alleged shortcomings.” More. He alleged that MPs signatures could be obtained for a price.
Worse, he elucidates how Soren put
pressure on him to block CBI’s applications for Sanction for Prosecution on
several tainted officials. “I was forced to comply with written orders which were against my advice
and which I considered “wrong. There is unwillingness by the Minister to bring about required
transparency in respect of coal policies.”
Topped by, “The coal
mafia is not outside the Government. It exists within the Coal Ministry, coal companies, trade unions, State administrations and local political
leadership. There
is large-scale black marketing and generation of black money through patronage
of coal mafia. MPs who swear to uphold the Constitution with impunity indulge
in blackmailing civil servants and senior PSUs executives to meet their
personal ends”, he added for good measure.
But this is not the end of the saga. In another
8-page smoldering letter to Manmohan Singh Parakh sought voluntary retirement
citing how he was under tremendous political pressure even as he named three
MPs, including two Congress’s and BSP who solicited bribes from senior coal PSU
officials and wanted action taken against them. But the Prime Minister
counseled him to hold his guns, rueing this was the way the country was run.
An indictment which should have resulted in
various heads rolling. But then we are talking of our Bharat Mahan where ghooskhori
and gundabazzi are two ends of
the political spectrum. If one hoped for strong political commitment along-with
enforcement of law and order at both the Central and State levels, one was
barking up the wrong tree.
Alas, in our ‘business of democracy of direct
sale and polity’s rules by law, a
weak and puny Prime Minister accepts this as “part of coalition politics”(sic),
instead of changing the way democracy is run. Can coalition compulsions become
the raison d atre of turning a
Nelson’s eye, tolerating and compromising on sleaze in Government? Is this part
of coalition dharma?
What happened to the oath he took to preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution? And that he in primus
inter pares first among equal, right? Does it force an indulgence on issues
of governance and probity? Or does governance dictate that the corrupt be
summarily thrown out? All dusted and synchronized to the serenades of His
Masters voice.
Notwithstanding,
Manmohan Singh’s bravado, “I am not above the law of
the land. If there is anything that the CBI, or for that matter anybody, wants
to ask, I have nothing to hide,” many feel that he should personally take the hit
and become the fall guy when his colleagues falter.
It is his
paramount duty to exercise his Prime Ministerial authority and uphold the
sanctity of the institution of the Office of the Prime Minister. He can not
afford to be escapist on the “loot” engulfing his Administration by shrugging
his shoulders. Not a few wonder why he was circumvent when it came to the 2G
spectrum scam given that the Opposition wanted him and PMO officers to appear
before the joint Parliamentary Committee investigating the scam.
Remember, Union Cabinet
Ministers function at the pleasure of the Prime Minister. He is the boss and
custodian of the people's interest. He has absolute power in running
the country. He can undo decisions in no time even when his Ministers flout
rules and code of ethics.
What next? As long as the Prime Minister continues to be perceived as powerless
pummeled between the Gandhi ma-beta
Sonia and Rahul duo the present crisis’s will continue. Underscored by the de facto and the de jure power centres, read Sonia and Singh contributing to a
political and moral void.
Undeniably, there are no
easy solutions to dealing with the problem of coal mafia in the current
political and administrative milieu as the country has no
institutional mechanism to stop such misconduct. But what about our
political Gangs of Wasseypur? Certainly there are innumerable laws to hold them
accountable but it needs strong political commitment and spine. Alas, on both
counts India
is highly deficient
The need of the hour is a paradigm shift in the way
governance and democracy is run in our Asli
Bharat. What needs to be emphasized is that the Prime Minister cannot give
largesse to any mantri or neta according to their sweet whims and
fancies. Appearance of public justice is as important as doing justice.
Does Manmohan Singh have the grit required to do so? Any
attempt to stifle a new Aspirational India’s call for true democracy of the people, by the people and for the
people is not difficult. If there is a will there is a way. After all,
Governments are custodians of public trust and interest. The nation and people
are first -- way above selfish and narrow political interests.
Basic principles of truth and probity cannot be sacrificed
at the altar of coalition dharma,
precisely what Singh’s UPA has done for nine years. The Prime Minister needs to
follow up now with some tough, uncompromising action, whatever be his
compulsions. Statecraft demands enlightenment.
He needs to remember that leadership is not merely an
exposition of ones abilities or honesty. Intrinsic to leadership is the ability
to enforce and demand the highest standards. As US President Obama said, “With
increased power comes increased responsibility.”
The time has come for him to seriously introspect on what
went wrong. But more important to ensure that this is not repeated. After all,
the right to do something does not mean that doing it is right. Institutional integrity has to be upheld at
all costs, no matter what it takes. Forsaking the Kursi included.
Manmohan Singh is clearly on test it is high time he cuts
the mal-governance gangrene. Our Professor of economics should know that the
real meaning of politics is not power but service. He needs to adopt Lord
Buddha’s wise words: A better future for India is possible only by doing
good in the present. The buck or muck stops with you, Mr Prime Minister. In a
democracy, the proof of the pudding is in its eating, read action!! ---- INFA
(Copyright, India
News and Feature Alliance)
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