FOLDING KNIVES

India’s Congress Party On Suicide Watch

During the past few months, India has been witnessing a remarkable spectacle. The ruling Congress Party seems hell bent on committing political hara-kiri in full public glare. Moreover, the cosmetic gestures it is making to improve its image are only causing it to sink deeper into the hole it has dug for itself. Not surprisingly, the main opposition party, the BJP, is sharpening its knives in anticipation of the fatal thrust. Even the parties that are ostensibly allies of the Congress – in the time honoured tradition of political rats – are distancing themselves from the Congress’ sinking ship.

The key issue that has finally provoked the normally somnambulant Indian public to outrage is corruption in public office. Of course, corruption has been a part of India’s officialdom for the past 60 years. But this time it is so blatant; and so thoroughly exposed by the Indian media, that the people are rubbing their eyes in disbelief. And in its half hearted measures to regain public confidence, the Congress keeps shooting itself in the foot.

Take the scam that started the Congress debacle. I am referring, of course, to the celebrated Commonwealth Games heist and its chief perpetrator, Suresh Kalmadi. As evidence of monumental loot piles up against Kalmadi and his lieutenants in-crime, the government is running around in circles. Initially, it held out some promise by arresting three of Kalmadi’s key aides, but then got egg on its face by having to release them because the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), controlled by the government, failed to file a charge sheet within the stipulated period. That this lapse was allowed despite intense media scrutiny and public anger is truly baffling. Indeed, the Congress is presenting all the appearance of a startled deer frozen in car headlights. It should now be obvious to the densest intellect that Kalmadi has become a major embarrassment to the Congress and it is in the party’s best interests that he be charge sheeted at the earliest and summarily sacked as head of  the Indian Olympic Committee (IOC). The Congress has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Yet it is dilly dallying to the point of impotence.

Then there was the much anticipated Cabinet reshuffle, which turned out to be a damp squib. Here was a golden opportunity for the Congress to shore up its plummeting reputation, but the PM made a mess of it. The least he could have done was drop the controversial ministers to send a signal that he was serious about tackling corruption, but even that proved to be beyond his severely curtailed powers. It is widely presumed that he was stymied by Madam, who has an unfortunate proclivity to be influenced by self serving sycophants and to prize loyalty over competence, integrity and even morality.

Fortunately or unfortunately for the government, scams are being revealed so thick and fast that is becoming difficult for the public to keep track. For example, yesterday’s bête-noir, the infamous A.Raja, was barely mentioned until very recently when a token arrest took place. Even then, the probability of the DMK’s Dalit icon being actually being put behind bars is fairly remote. The latest buzz is about the billions of dollars illegally stashed away by some Indians in foreign banks. Apparently, the banks in question have obligingly passed on the names of the fraudsters to the government, but the latter is inexplicably reluctant to reveal them. The Congress’ credibility and probity is taking a terrible beating in the media and in public perception. The government’s pathetic attempt to take shelter behind some nebulous treaties; and reluctance to take punitive action against the perpetrators, save recover tax dues, is fuelling public outrage to the point that, were a general election to be held tomorrow, the party would be decimated. Here again, the Congress is in a position to restore its damaged image to a large extent by at least appearing to take firm action. Yet it appears to be fumbling in bewilderment and handing the opposition parties a giant stick to hammer it with. For sure, disclosure of the names on the infamous list is likely to reveal the names of powerful politicians. However, given the reality that crookedness among our politicians cuts across party lines, the gains from punishing the looters would far outweigh the embarrassment.

Finally there is the curious case of P.J. Thomas. For an already besieged government to deliberately set itself up for a shellacking from the opposition and the media by appointing an official with a chargesheet against him is not just bad politics, it is downright foolish. The BJP must be grinning from ear to ear at the political plums that keep falling into its lap. The only explanation I can think of for this eminently avoidable embarrassment to the Congress is that the sainted Thomas is a favourite of Sonia Gandhi and was pushed through due to her insistence – and it is well known that madam values personal loyalty above all else.

The Congress party’s defence and excuses for not taking a strong stand against blatant corruption are becoming ever more feeble and farcical. So much so that even the Congress’ nominated blowhard, Manish Tiwari, has been keeping away from the television debates he loved fulminating on. My guess is that it finally dawned on him that he could no longer defend the indefensible without making a total ass of himself. As for our benign and impotent Prime Minister, he is clearly overwhelmed by events and is sustaining his customary invisibility. The rumour is that even the Supreme Leader is crying basta (enough) and wishing she had never left Italy. Or maybe she is hoping that the Heir Apparent can yet pull a rabbit out of the hat – but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

About the Author

I have an excellent command over the English language, with a graduate degree from London University and 35 years of experience in the engineering industry. After my retirement in 2004, I have pursued my passion for writing – both technical and creative. I have just completed an assignment of 25 technical articles (each of 500+ words) for an American engineering company. I also have a monthly column in a magazine and am a member of its advisory board. I also blog; and you can read my articles on http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/39690/firoze_hirjikaka.html

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