Morals in Indian politics, which in the early days, have witnessed greats like Lal Bahadur Shastri, who lived in rented house even as he served as a Union Minister and who promptly resigned assuming moral responsibility for a train accident.
India has fallen a great deal and is now regarded as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. Most Indians wishing to overcome the bureaucratic delays and the cumbersome laws, offer speed money for a gas cylinder to a rail ticket. Though the liberalization and de-licensing has begun fifteen years ago, the wily politicians and the officers have mastered the art of milking the industry from a coal bed allotment to allotment of bandwidth for telecom. Gandhian principles have been cremated with Gandhi and there is a blind hurry to loot as if there is no tomorrow, to a stage that, neither the public nor the vociferous media are interested in the story, if the size of the loot is not large enough for a repeat look or telecast.
There may not be a single party aboveboard, resulting in most parties staunchly opposing inclusion under RTI Act. Political parties want Supreme Court to review and recall their order proscribing criminally tainted leaders from either fighting elections or holding any office.
The country despite having a reserve of nearly $ 300 Bn. Is close to bankruptcy (on which I shall write shortly) and is on to announce grandiose schemes involving lakhs of crores, increasing the deficit and weakening the rupee like never before.
A brave IAS officer Durga Nagpal acted decisively against a sand mafia, to be suspended in 41 minutes flat, the feat being boasted by a SP minister claiming that this was ‘Democracy.’ Every self-respecting Indian should hang his head in shame. The Central Government depending on the support of the SP more than ever, particularly in the wake of resignations by several Andhra MPs, has not batted an eyelid, when a phenomenal show of strength between the Legislature and Executive is being fought on the streets.
As concerned citizens of this country we are appalled at the most corrupt central government seemingly oblivious of every abrasion of our constitution and democratic values. The hunger for materialistic gains has overridden moral values and the chase is on to acquire wealth at any cost.
As a first step as responsible citizens, could we demand inclusion of all political parties under the purview of RTI Act?
