Coffins to choppers: No end to scam plague

Even as an Italian investigation is bringing out damning information on the VVIP helicopter deal, the Indian response has been divided. Defence minister and patron saint of clean politics ‘St Antony’ has realised (though a few years late) that “something happened somewhere”, which also threatens the image he has painstakingly built for himself — thereby meriting cancellation of the deal.

However, external affairs minister Salman Khurshid is not keen to “overreact” because it would affect our “defence preparedness”. But the venerable mantri doesn’t elaborate what role helicopters transporting VVIPs are going to contribute to defence preparedness.

Khurshid has stressed that Letters Rogatory, which request a foreign government’s or government institution’s cooperation for an investigation, will allow India to get to the bottom of the alleged scam. However, the charade of investigation into the Bofors scam has amply demonstrated to us how the government can sabotage such processes from within.

Though Khurshid vouches for the capabilities of Augusta Westland helicopters, the claim is difficult to stomach when it has emerged that performance requirements were tweaked to benefit the company.

AK Antony is clean and honest, but has always demonstrated to be spineless when it comes to dealing with filth in his team. His terms as chief minister of Kerala saw some of the biggest scams and criminal activities of party leaders, coalition partners and ministers (of course, all alleged and never proven). Even when a senior Cabinet colleague was under investigation for sexual misconduct (Ice cream Parlour Sex Scandal), Antony would not ask him to stay out of ministry till he is cleared. The minister has been acquitted by all trial courts and the Supreme Court. There are plenty more, but this one is the crown jewel.

The inevitable presence of middlemen and ‘consultant’ companies (where many top military officials find employment after their service) in defence deals is a clear demonstration of the lack of willingness of the government to put national interests first. From coffins to choppers, rations to munitions, those tasked with protecting the country (service personnel, bureaucrats and political leaders) are looting it or facilitating the plunder.

The anger and tirade of the defence minister will play to domestic galleries but need not translate into actions of consequence, especially when the investigations involve other countries. Their judicial process follows due procedure of law and usually does not cater to requirements of “public conscience”.

Unless there is conviction and policy decision that national interests will come first, these investigations will take the usual long and winding road to nowhere, bleed the exchequer and finally peter out.

There was a time when military had a good standing in the public eye, but it is no longer the case. There are stains that need to be removed and creases that have to be smoothened before the uniform can return to its former glory.

(This article was published as the editorial column in Postnoon on February 20, 2013.)

Owaisi doesn’t hold monopoly of hate

MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi is in the eye of a storm kicked up by his controversial speech. His vitriolic words have drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum — and increased his following among the hawks in his party.

However, in the frenzy to nail the MIM’s floor leader, we are ignoring the impunity hate mongers enjoy in this country. Likes of Praveen Togadia, the Thackeray cousins, leaders of numerous regional political and religious outfits and caste party satraps make equally venomous comments and get away with it.

Recently, Union minister Salman Khurshid had publicly threatened Aam Admi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal with violence if the latter ever dared to enter his constituency — and was promptly executed by his supporters. We haven’t seen Khurshid being arrested.

Politicians across party lines continue to make derogatory remarks against rape victims. Why don’t we see those powerful Sections of Indian Penal Code invoked against them? Ignoramuses like Asaram Bapu continue to walk free.

Leaders of caste kangaroo courts that make a mockery of the law of the land with their ‘verdicts’ of violent retribution and honour killings are free men. They continue to be key elements in the scheme of political parties.

Barely a week back, killers of Indira Gandhi, executed for the severest acts of treason and terrorism, were honoured by the highest religious body of Sikhs as martyrs. We don’t see Akal Takht leaders handcuffed and bundled into police vehicles.

There are several political leaders in Tamil Nadu who openly endorse the LTTE — still listed as a terrorist organisation by the country. Those who engineered the attacks on Sri Lankan pilgrims in the state are still roaming the streets, continuing their propaganda of hate and division.

Separatist leaders of Kashmir, who unleash anti-India tirades and continually support merger with Pakistan, continue to be free.

As a matter of fact, government of India allows them to visit Pakistan and meet anti-India leaders. Clerics who issue those outrageous fatwas that infringe on Constitution-guaranteed liberties are never touched.

Our holy cow approach to dealing with such people owing to their caste, region and religion has allowed them to become extra-constitutional authorities that act above the law. This, however, is not surprising in a country where scientists who make inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) prostrate before ‘human gods’.

What the MIM does in its strongholds in Hyderabad is no different from what Shiv Sena and MNS does in the Mumbai-Thane belt. The stranglehold it keeps on the community and its political power projection ensures that there is no dearth of fodder for Sangh Parivar organisations in Old City.

There is nothing unique about Akbaruddin Owaisi, and there is definitely nothing new about the toxicity in his speeches. Hate speech cases are nothing new to people like him and his equally competent counterparts in the saffron fold.

It is universal knowledge that all of them will go scot-free after the initial hype, a few court hearings and prolonged legal battles. Lawyers will take care of business in the court while their clients continue to ply their trade in public fora.

Unless there are convictions, jail sentences and punishments like debarring them from any kid of political activity and public office, there is no hope of de-fanging these merchants of hate. 

(This article was published as the editorial column in Postnoon on January 9, 2013.)