Cicero was a Roman orator and statesman of the 1st century BC whose writings deeply influenced modern thought. He was once retained by Sicilians to prosecute the Governor of Sicily, C. Verres, who had become unbearably corrupt and cruel.
Cicero prepared the first of what was to be a six-part chargesheet against the Governor, analysing the evils of greedy administrators. That first part was so powerful in its logic that Governor Verres gave up his post and retired into exile.
That was the good news.
The bad news was that the same Sicily gave birth to a secret nationalist society called the Mafia which in the 19th century turned into a collection of hired thugs specialising in blackmail, protection rackets and murder. Marlon Brando etched it into the world’s memory with The Godfather.
So why bring it up now?
To remind us that good history does not repeat itself. There was a time when people could prosecute the head of their government for corruption. That cannot happen now.
There were heads of government who would be shamed into voluntary exile when people filed charges against them. That is unthinkable today.
Bad history alone repeats itself. People who once had the power to prosecute their political boss later fell prey to the mafia. This is happening again and again around us.
Consider Karnataka, once one of the best governed states in India and led by some of best political minds in the country. Can that history repeat itself? Far from it.
Go into ancient history and we find rajahs losing their right to rule if they violated rajneeti; Sri Rama himself chose to heed public opinion even if it meant losing his wife. How different it is today? A. B. Vajpayee did accuse Narendra Modi of violating raj dharma, but it was Vajpayee who had to swallow his words while Modi went on with his violations.
Karnataka has hit national headlines for the wrong reasons. (Typical headline: Nataka in Karnataka). The Governor donned the battle dress, the Legislature became a war zone. All because of three ministers, the Reddy brothers.
A number of facts have turned public opinion against the Troika.
Fact: In 2008 a minority BJP Government was turned amorally into a majority with money provided by the Reddys.
Fact: In late 2009, under pressure of public opinion, the Chief Minister tried to curb the Reddys’ highhandedness; he transferred out of Bellary several officers who had been acting according to the orders of the Reddys and Reddys alone.
Fact: Within a month the Chief Minister cancelled the transfer of officers and withdrew criminal cases filed against the Reddys.
Fact: Under party pressure to placate the Reddy Troika the Chief Minister dropped one of his closest colleagues from the Cabinet, removed his capable and faithful Principal Secretary and withdrew a tax he had imposed on iron-ore trucks.
Fact: In the midst of the ongoing controversy, one of the Troika spends two hours in private conference with notorious criminals in a Bangalore Jail.
What gives the Reddys the power to run a state so haughtily? The obvious answer is their limitless “purchasing power” gained from the exploitation, without heed to laws and regulations, of the natural resources of Karnataka and Andhra. Less obvious is the unstinted support they receive from the BJP top brass in Delhi.
What motivates the BJP top brass when the Reddys are (a) not BJP-wallahs in any ideological sense and (b) an obvious liability to the party?
The short answer to that one is: Sushma Swaraj.
The Reddys publicly worship SS as their mother. Sushma Swaraj ignores their sins, ignores their unpopularity and gives them full support because perhaps she sees a day when brazen Reddy money can install a BJP government in Delhi as it did in Bangalore. No prices for guessing who will be the prime minister in such a government.
Thus does private ambition carry our country from misfortune to misfortune.
Most of the top BJP leaders as well as the Cong-I high command are actually wary of the canny clout of these dons from Bellary who have all the unashamed support of the ‘Mother’.
In fact, it is now known that the Troika are the brains behind the crying, figurehead CM’s suggestion to Union Government to ban export of iron ore (instead of banning illegal Iron Ore Mining!) as such a major move by the Govt would directly help the Reddy’s plans for the Rs 36,000 crore massive steel plant (the MoU between Brahmani Steels owned by Reddy brothers and the state government was signed during the recent Global Investors Meet).
Talk about stealth-mining and officially (we are 24 carat Gold!) exporting of millions of tons of iron ore to china? Well read it all here…
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/360-degree/bellary-belekeri-checks-don%E2%80%99t-balance-967
Now, who can challenge the genius behind these overnight billionaires?
I had thought SS was the best bet BJP had Post-Vajpayee… If this is how she hopes to lead BJP, I change my opinion. She seems to be just another unprincipled opportunist like Advani.
this seems a bit lame: shri. george is stating the obvious!
Sushma Swaraj dreams of becoming prime minister with Reddy Troika’s wealth. Their plan is very simple and straight, they will fund 15-20 crores each to over 150-200 constituencies across India thus getting over 100 MP’s to support great mother India Sushma Swaraj and ensuring her being in highest office of this country. Trust me Sushma Swaraj will prove to be worst PM than Mayavathi.
Reddy’s invested over 300 crores in 2008 Assembly election in Karnataka but got back over 30 times of this money by way of illegal mining. No prize for guessing what favor they will seek back from Mother India (Sorry for using this word, no pun intended).
BJP though sounded different in the beginning till Vajapayee was its leader not its worst then Congress in most of the states where it rules with exception to Gujarat and MP.
For congress its question of survival in South India, they are out of power in TN, Kerala (Alternatively) and now Karnataka, with Jagan threatening to be a rebel leader, they may even loose Andhra. Janardhan Reddy being the man behind Jagan’s rebellion its very important for congress to curb Reddy’s from joining hands with Jagan so is this fuss all about. Jagan will announce a new party on 2nd September during death anniversary of YSR thus pave ways for congress to loose Andhra, though Chiranjivi could support Congress Govt in Andhra but not for long time which will lead to mid-term poll in AP this might lead to extinction of congress from south India, with Rahul baba eyeing PM’s post in 2014 election, its critical for congress to win at least 50 seats in South India.
I feel pity on senior leaders like Advaniji for not been able to do anything. 2nd line leadership of BJP is corrupt and ready to do anything for the sake of power, best example is Jharkhand where they supported murderer and shared power for few months.
There are millions of party workers who gave precious time of their life to see BJP in power, may god rest their souls in peace…….
How is it possible for Reddy brothers to accumulate crores without being found out by so many authorities? Has money started to grow on the trees where these humble people had houses? Or did they win some lottery? How could some one donate crores worth “kirit” to the temple?
If we need any proof that in India rich can manage to plunder Reddy brothers are providing enough proof.
Just one month back, Supreme Court gave a verdict against Anil Ambani’s company that his brother cannot sell gas at lower price since natural resources belong to the country. How come we have not found any one filing a case against Reddy brothers in the Supreme Court based on such a historic verdict? Why did George fail to mention it in his article? Making such practical suggestions is less sensational than bashing some political leaders who are known for such corrupt practices.
@all the journalists and comments contributors on this blog
OK.. All this BJP bashing and reddy controversy and corruption is as the cliche goes… “stale news”. One keeps reading in the media about need for diff leadership, about how which of the corrupt parties is better/worse, about how we need better enforcement of laws blablabla.
Any actual suggestions of practical ways to change the system? Any coverage of people in the government agencies who ACTUALLY work honestly(read without succumbing to corruption)?? The last point is just a hint at the professional journalists that maybe it is time that you started trying to publish more of the other side of the coin, maybe that will help reinstill faith in the system and maybe, just maybe slowly transfer the corruption index into the opposite end of the scale!
the Reddys are not BJP-wallahs in any ideological sense
Reddy’s are misfit CASTE WISE also in the lingayat-brahmin BJP, am not sure the lingayat maths will tolerate reddys any longer. Reddys should think over it, they will always be “other” in the BJP. Their DAYS are numbered now, they have to maneuver swiftly within next two months before they are made villains by one and all.
Sushma you can repeat your owe of sleeping on the mat and shaving your head, as you will never be PM:)
>Consider Karnataka, once one of the best governed states in India and led by some of best political minds in the country
lol, aluvudo naguvudo neeve heli….
If Bangarappa, Gundurao, Moily, Krishna, Dharamsingh, Devegowda, Bommai, JH patel, Kumarswamy are(were) some of the best political minds in the country, then I have bridge (as usaual for great political brains pathetically designed, poorly constructed) in KR puram to sell.
>Thus does private ambition carry our country from misfortune to misfortune
One more lol moment, I thought it has been like this since we had the great tryst with destiny.
Exact reflection of the ground reality.
pushed to the wall.. reddy’s will be quick to change their boats and just wait and see…Congress will be glad to take them into fold. Noone is an outcaste in Politics.
Daily Bread:
>If Bangarappa, Gundurao, Moily, Krishna, Dharamsingh, Devegowda, Bommai, JH patel, Kumarswamy are(were) some of the best political minds
I suspect he was refering to Hegde, Patil, Nijalingappa, Kengal etc…
Gundu Rao wasn’t bad in Governance,neither was Devegowda when he was CM. Corruption climbed its peak in Bangarappa days, and then it never came down.
:-(
But, what’s happening now isn’t corruption. This isn’t the typical “where is my 10%” phenomenon.
This is day light robbery by Bandits, where our mineral resources are being stolen by paying nothing for it. Its not only Iron, it is the same with Sand, water, airwaves and other resources.
RSS/BJP always had a radical/fascist ideology about them. But, atleast they were true to their ideology and were largely honest.
From being a disciplined party made up entirely of RSS volunteers, BJP today has become the den of the Goondas and most corrupt elements.
Here is another instance : http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jul/21/bjp-mp-behind-murder-says-rti-activists-father.htm
The strange part is Congress, from being the worst possible party you could imagine, has improved over the period. Not that it is honest, or doesn’t have goonda elements, but it seems to be more sensitive and the unruly netas are sidelined or kept in check.
Sad that our Main opposition party can’t do any better than rogues like Reddys… :-(
Is the denouement that simple and complete? Agreed that The Taayi aka Bhog Maata’s support is one of the main reasons for the brazenness of Reddys. But does it mean the rest in the high command (ok, that’s a congie term but whatever is the equivalent body in BJP) are all for the scalps of Reddys?
I doubt it. The reality of Indian politics is one needs tons of money to win the elections. The guys in Delhi and Nagpur aren’t so ideologically blind sided to take the high moral ground and cut off the hands that feed. It’s realpolitic and however much distasteful, it is here to stay for some time – atleast till the electoral politics undergoes quite a quantum, disruptive change and money and muscle power have diminishing effect on the outcome.
The political analysts apply too much logic into actions/inactions of our politicians and its implications on election outcomes. I think you can not reason out Indian politics with logic. Its mere noise, no pattern. You can not reason out NDAs defeat after a reasonably good rule or Left front’s rule for 25 disastrous years. Its just beyond any logic, if any. Sushma Swaraj knows it too well and hence does not bother like George or commentators here. Election results are mainly mandated by an “unexplained wave” and to some extent (only to some extent, I don’t think it has a huge impact as many think), money, social engineering and muscle. Hitchens once said, public is sometimes wrong, mass is often wrong and mob is almost always wrong. No doubt we vote as a mob. So stop analysing and relax.
The Bellary Reddys are also backing Jagan in AP. Which is why Chandrababu Naidu is going all out to assert himself. Because the first time, when Babu lost to YSR, it was the Naxalites-Congress deal that did him in. The second time, YSR worked with the irrigation mafia to consolidate his Reddy base in Kamma dominant areas, maneuvered the Telengana guys to his side. Before he was killed in the helicopter accident, YSR was v.actively working with the Bellary Reddys to find them mining leases or anything else he could give away to them in AP. The Bellary Reddys hiked their price and thanks to Sushma Swaraj armtwisted Yeddy. The Congress has no intention of reining in the Reddys because they could then back Jagan full tilt and spoil the Congress’s seat base in AP.
Anshuman:
>atleast till the electoral politics undergoes quite a quantum, disruptive change
The disruptive change will be too painful. Most probably it’ll come in form of a civil war, and India may not survive it as a single nation.
We as citizens should have no respect for leaders who bow to ‘real politic’ to the extent that they forget why politics exists in the first place. It isn’t for their self-aggrandizement, it isn’t for lining their pocket, it is for changing the India’s future for the better.
If they can’t do that, and sup with criminal elements, then they don’t deserve our vote or respect.
Dear Harkol,
you said it best. This is not a simple issue of corruption. This is indeed day light robbery and all of us are mute spectators.
Can this group of thinkers suggest some simple or even out of the box type complex strategies to stop this day light robbery?
This analysis seems rather simplistic and assumes that SS has unquestioned clout in India’s main opposition party. Like Anshuman suggests, the answer could lie in the party choosing to going easy on one of its major sources of finance . When one is in the opposition, there are fewer avenues for funding elections and running the party machinery, so consolidation rather than confrontation would be the watchword.
@Sanghamitra
FYI, Mayavathi was never PM. So you can’t speculate her performance as PM. If you ask my opinion, she will prove to be one the best PM, like she si one of the best CMs of UP.
Shenoy Sir,
>you said it best. This is not a simple issue of corruption. This is indeed day light robbery and all of us are mute spectators.
Aane, adike and all that, why differentiate between different types of corruptions. For ex. almost every Sales/excise/customs/pwd/bbmp/govt officer comes from an upper caste, god-fearing, temple going middle class family. Do you know how much money they collect for themselves everyday in bangalore alone?
>Can this group of thinkers suggest some simple or even out of the box type complex strategies to stop this day light robbery?
No need, “this group of thinkers” are the wworshttuu offenders.
Harkol
You are right. I have been shouting myself hoarse in these columns.
BJP of today looks like old congress.
Congress of today looks like old BJP.
There are 100 instances to prove this point, yet Congress baiters never see this point. Their blind love for their party is like blind love for one’s family. No matter what the family does, you stick with it.
Before people like Gaby jump and nail me saying that I am no better, let me remind her that I was a shrill opponent of Rajiv’s congress and Indira also. Now, since 10 years Congress is no longer dictatorial or arrogant and in fact has shown better sensitivity than other parties, naturally I find Cong to be a better party than all others.
Harkol,
>>The disruptive change will be too painful. Most probably it’ll come in form of a civil war, and India may not survive it as a single nation.
Nope, I hope not. When I said disruptive I didn’t mean it to be violent. I think there would come a day when the electoral politics becomes so insanely difficult for majority of the aspirants across the party lines that they will have to sit up and do a major shake-out. Call me naive but this is what I see happening and then the act would be cleaned up. In some sense it is the scenario of diminishing returns with cost of business (read politics) going up. There will come a breaking point.
I don’t see the people of this country getting too much perturbed with the run of the things and then taking up arms leading to civil war, violence etc. Instead it’s the primary beneficiaries of this game ie politicians who would be forced to reset the game.
I definitely concur with rest of your views but then reality is not pretty and I don’t see such idealistic winds sweeping through our countryside anytime soon. I suspect it will be business as usual because most of the folks don’t seem to be too much bothered about corruption. Sad but true. As long as their life goes on without much upheaval, they don’t seem to be angry with mining scams, electoral malpractices etc. Should they be really bothered? May be. But as long as the loss to them is not personalised, it doesn’t seem to affect them. Words like loss to the exchequer don’t gt equated to a personal loss to them.
Faldo,
Yes. That pretty much seems to be the game right now. I have a chaddi dost (no pun intended. He is my childhood friend) who is a very active BJP supporter and an Internet warrior. In our ‘spirit’ed discussions he makes it clear that it’s time to give a short-shrift to sissy values, propriety etc and the aim is to capture power. I see a great deal of restlessness in my friends of the saffron tilt. Most of them think that they have waited for a long time to run this country and hence it is ok to adopt any means to achieve that goal. The logic is a bit naive but pretty straightforward – once the goal is achieved, they would do the clean up act later. It’s almost Frankensteinian in premise but I doubt it is that simple to roll over and say – Thanks Reddy, thanks for your money. Now behave.
Simple Sir,
Thank you & Ghandhis for various rights. Can you also please demand for a “Right to wisdom”.
PS: By any chance are you Krisna Byregowda?
Looting this country 1000 times faster than the British… and they call themselves nationalists!
DB:
>why differentiate between different types of corruptions.
Because, purity doesn’t exist in the nature. It is only the matter of %.
Because, Aane/Adike just characterizes a person’s moral/ethical mooring – Not the damage he causes to society. While ethically a traffic policeman pocketing Rs.100 is same as Yeddi’s & sons pocketing 100cr for some deal, the quantum of damage done to the society isn’t the same.
Because, We don’t elect Bureaucrats, but elect our representatives to guard over them. If elected representatives can’t frame laws, and adhere to the laws to check corruption, the damage caused is manifold.
Thus – Corruption in high places, causes bigger damage than in lower places.
>No need, “this group of thinkers” are the wworshttuu offenders.
Hmm.. What-d-ya know? I know no one here personally, and won’t cast aspersions on their character.
Besides, you characterizing the officers as upper-caste is interesting. I didn’t know corruption is a caste specific phenomenon. By that token, Mayawati must be the most honest CM and Tamil Nadu (with 69% reservations et.al.) the most honest state?
—-
>aspirants across the party lines that they will have to sit up and do a major shake-out
Our ruling class counts on a few things.
1. Fractious nature of our polity making each MP/MLA a Rajah!! If we had a presidential form of govt. or fixed tenure govt. their importance goes down to the level of a senator in US (his vote only counts for making a law for most part).
2. They count on Illiteracy – Making it possible for them to obfuscate real issues.
3. They count on slow/non-existance justice system – making it possible for them to flout every law on the books.
4. They count on large currency notes and Black economy. America banned large currency notes back in early 70s to root out black money and counterfeits. In India, elections and real-estate happen only with Blackmoney, which don’t need any accounting.
Why would any of these guys change this ‘complex’ system?? What you think as a complex system is a simple one for these folks. They basically follow no laws. They deal in only cash, and their source of legitimacy is some 15-20% votes they manage to gather to claim they have been vindicated in ‘people’s court’.
In history, most such systems changed through massive violence, not thru some sudden enlightenment… Why would India be different?
ok wise man
vote for congress
Why no one is thinking that, Mineral sources are national property. look at Gulf countries like UAE and Oman. Government (Rulers) itself, are controlling the Oil and gas resources. why our Govt can not control directly these resources by investing directly.
Manassiddare maarga. our leaders should take steps to nationalise all the resources, including Natuaral gas blocks given to Ambanis.
Ironically these Reddys are just using the Lingayat community for their very own profit, and these Yaddi and people like Renukacharya, Udasi …etc dont know what will happen to them.
Gani dhanigaliginta, mannina Makkale vaasi antha anistide.
I am surprised there are some people still supporting these Reddys. Naadoja Paapu once called Samyukta Karnataka as ” Sarakaarada Soole ” That time I did not believe. But this will fit now for SK. Same with Hai bengaluru also.
Sundar:
>ok wise man vote for congress
Wonder whom you were referring… ;)
Dailybread,
I am amused.
Read my response for the article titled ‘the Gandhis being the most opaque family in the world’. And you will wonder if your assumption about me being Krishna Byre Gowda is true or not.
Read it carefully, sentence by sentence.
Shekhar:
“our leaders should take steps to nationalise all the resources, including Natuaral gas blocks given to Ambanis.”
I have not read a more nonsense suggestion for several years now. It is surprising that even though the licence-permit-socialist Raj made us a beggar nation with no honour till 1991, we find fossils who talk about nationalization of this, nationalization of that! Rubbish.
@Dailybread
It’s funny; I had the same doubt.
Simple uncle,
‘Jump up and nail you’ – gosh this is a family channel err blog and you are such a FAMILY man!!!
It is disgusting and before long bubble of corruption will burst showering everybody with filth. No party will emerge unscathed for everybody’s finger is in the till
thats right they r dacoits in white dresses if u c their family back ground v can decide. hunger for food can b satisfied by eating best of the food but hunger for wealth and power is never ending
But, I predict, in future, Reddy type of Politics, will be successfull in this country……….
Sushma Swaraj is corrupted women in BJP