Till the other day he was a politician, an astute
politician. Not a mere politician but a seasoned politician who was not only
holding a sensitive portfolio in the government of the day, but also handling a
number of sensitive issues other than his portfolio. He was the one and only
trouble-shooter in the govt who was entrusted with tackling them all amicably.
After serving four and a half decades in the Grand Old Party
of India - Indian National Congress – holding and handling responsibilities, on
a fine morning he found himself catapulted to the post of Indian President –
free from all political entanglements in the sunset of his life. As the titular
head of the nation he is bound to toe an entirely different line, an independent
line which is satisfactory, both to the Treasury benches as well as the
Opposition.
Unfortunately it seems the political hangover of yesterday
has still not left him, on going by his 66th Independence day eve
message to the nation broadcast live from the august office he holds unravels
before us.
He agrees that the pandemic of endemic corruption has eaten
into the vitals of our democracy, unfortunately he is not at all that happy
when a government of which he was a part and parcel till the other day, is
squarely blamed by a few persons who mobilize the citizens to take up cudgels
against the govt which according to him is likely to affect badly the very
fabric of democracy upon which India still forges ahead. It is true that he
took extreme care to desist from directly pointing his finger at the leaders
involved in leading the people fighting against corruption by non-violent means
and from the way he delivered his message we can reach the conclusion that they
are Team Anna Hazaare and Yoga Guru Ramdev.
He should have come to grips with the tragic fact that when
the govt of the day of which he was a part turns a blind eye and deaf ears towards
the hue and cry made by the people, it is natural that the crusaders against
the evils of corruption and black money stashed abroad in various banks, out of
anger and frustration intensify their protests. As the President of India, now
that he is free from all political obligations he could have prevailed upon
those at the helm of govt to take necessary steps to stamp out the evil of
corruption, if not overnight, at least gradually and to bring back the black
money which is a huge sum, 25 lakh crores of black money reportedly stashed
abroad which if brought back at a critical juncture like this could wipe out
the tears of India’s poverty-stricken millions and bring about overall changes
across the nation.
Even after repeated demands and demonstrations, it is quite
baffling that our govt is doing virtually nothing to find a solution while
other nations like USA and a few European countries had succeeded in repatriation
of money stashed abroad. Even while he was holding finance portfolio, a white
paper was prepared and released which according to an opposition MP was a mere
paper.
It is another truth that while the Opposition was in the Treasury
benches more than once they too didn’t take any steps to wipe out the evil of
corruption as also bringing back the black money.
We are all willing to agree with our Honourable President,
the need for existence of a strong judiciary and a healthy legislature. But we,
with all humility can’t agree with his remark that the ongoing fight against corruption
by citizens is likely to result in chaos which depends upon the attitude of the
govt.
It is imperative that govt should take the initiative to
bring all parties including the civil activists in order to find a permanent
solution for the malady which has seriously affected our country, if not soon
at least in the long run, around a negotiation table and chalk out a programme
of action.
It is quite absurd and meaningless to suggest that we have
to wait for the coming elections to register our protests or support through
ballot boxes. Why can’t the govt of the day take actions at the earliest before
the situation reaches a point of no return. The menace of corruption is
spreading fast eroding the credibility of our democratic credentials.
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