Earlier, people used to be tolerant towards corruption. Then they got accustomed to it. Today, corruption has become a way of life. Those who are not corrupt face numerous difficulties.

Earlier, people used to be tolerant towards corruption. Then they got accustomed to it. Today, corruption has become a way of life. Those who are not corrupt face numerous difficulties.

Up to the 1960s, corruption was negligible but after Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister, especially in the 1970s when Gundu Rao, Bhajan Lal, Jagannath Mishra and the ilk had to pay a certain amount to Indira Gandhi every month, they justified corruption by telling officers that as they have to pay Delhi so they have to collect by hook or by crook.

I remember when Bhajan Lal was Chief Minister of Haryana, he said at a gathering that had he known that Indira Gandhi was such a greedy person, he would have become Chief Minister long back. Like water, corruption flows from the top to the grassroots level.

A new chapter of a high in corruption began with the advent of the UPA Government at the Centre, for many known and confirmed corrupt politicians decorated the Central Government; from Lalu to Taslimuddin.

The NDA Government had at least a dozen Ministers, holding important portfolios - like AB Vajpayee, LK Advani, Jagmohan, BC Khanduri, Arun Shourie, Arun Jaitley, Ram Naik and others with spotless character. Therefore, the corruption did not flow from the top, though it was still rampant in the administration.

As far as the phenomenon of corruption is concerned, it has always been there in some or the other form throughout the world, but it has always been looked down upon too.

In his famous speech, Rajiv Gandhi mentioned that more than 80 per cent of the Central aid never reaches the targeted people, which means in between the money is siphoned off. Rajiv Gandhi emerged as Mr Clean.

But his regime ended with the infamous Bofors scandal. They even saved the middleman Ottavio Quattrocchi who had made money not only in the Bofors deal but in over two dozens others.

The Congress leadership succeeded in saving him as it is now engaged in saving Lalu, Mulayam Singh, Mayawati and others depending upon its political exigencies.

In yesteryear, States were mentioned for smalltime corruption. But today Jharkhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are referred to in the corruption deals of thousands of crores.

The Centre's involvement in Defence deal corruption and in bulk purchases of wheat comes in astronomical figures.

The latest high sounding issue is that of Prime Minister's Office (PMO) writing letters facilitating Union Minister TR Baalu's son's business interest as if by being Union Minister he has the right to get benefits for his son. The chapter starting with shielding tainted Ministers reached its zenith with the PMO's recommendation.

Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi explained that the PMO had only written forwarding letters and not the recommendation letters.

Everybody knows that a whisper in the PMO amounts to thunder in the ministries. In between, for quite some months, we have heard controversies regarding oil vouchers where Sonia Gandhi and Natwar Singh were involved. Natwar had to resign. However, he did privately spill the stories of corruption involving Sonia Gandhi to many.

Then came the Mitrokhin documents which proved beyond doubt how CPI, CPI(M) and the Congress got Russian money for election purposes.

It is an open secret that the UPA Government had to work overtime to save the skin of culprits of fodder scam. Sonia Gandhi's family members do come to know in advance which area of which city or town is going to be developed just by their proximity to 10 Janpath. They purchase land from farmers at cheap rates in those areas. As soon as the area gets notified for development they make huge profits by selling these properties at a premium.

There are dozens of stories doing the rounds in political circles about this monumental corruption.

Coming to Baalu, it is he probably thinks that by virtue of being a Union Minister, the business of his son ought to flourish enormously.

The matter has been raised vociferously by the Leader of Opposition LK Advani. He has also strongly demanded that the Prime Minister explain the matter in Parliament.

Though nobody is questioning the personal integrity of Dr Manmohan Singh, he has not only shielded tainted Ministers but also corrupt politicians.

This is the most corrupt Central Ministry India has ever witnessed but nobody is ashamed of it.

Those who have witnessed Parliament's proceedings during debate on the tainted Ministers must have seen dramatic case of Lalu Prasad Yadav which exemplifies the old dictum ulta chor kotwal ko daante.

Courtesy: www.dailypioneer.com, May 04, 2008