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.)
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