A YEAR OF STINKING SCAMS
The cover story of the latest Outlook (Dec. 13, 2010) carries the bold caption CONGRESS CRISIS. Below the caption are two pictures- of Sonia ji and Rahul Gandhi. A top corner of the cover bears a photograph of the much talked about lobbyist, Nira Radia.
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A sub-caption to the main heading reads:
A Parliament impasse. An election defeat. Rebellion in the ranks. The stench of corruption. Can the Congress dig itself out of the hole before the 2014 polls ?
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The year 2009 was for the Congress party a year of triumph. The 14th Lok Sabha elections victory was for them a surprise win. But with this second consecutive victory they were on cloud nine.
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The year 2010 is now about to end. If at the close of last year the ruling party was soaring sky high, today they are literally in the dumps. 2010 will always be remembered as the Year of Stinking Scams !
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 Last week in Parliament’s Central Hall I ran into several MPs who kept commenting on the serious crisis Government was facing, and in an anxious tone ask me: is another election imminent? My answer was, “Government no doubt is in a bad shape, Congressmen are extremely depressed and disheartened, But that does not mean that the government would call for elections. Only when in the course of my interaction with some ministers I heard them suggesting that to resolve the parliamentary impasse, government may even think of dissolution of the Lok Sabha, that I realized why MPs had become panicky about the possibility of elections.Â
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No government chooses to go in for an early election unless it is confident of victory. U.P.A.’s stocks have never before been as low as they are today. The talk of dissolution was intended to frighten MPs. All opposition MPs Left, Right and Centre− had become a solid phalanx in support of the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
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Ravindra Kumar, Editor Statesman, has last month (November 10) written a scathing article on the recent scams titled “Rotting from the head.â€
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The first two paragraphs of the article, given below, sums up how outraged he feels about what has been going on:
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“There is an overpowering simplicity to the scams that surround this Congress-led government. Projects and plans are, it seems, created and implemented with the primary intention of gathering loot. If some benefit accrues to ordinary citizens from governmental initiative, it seems incidental. And if this is the case, the duo of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh would appear to have charted a new course in the admittedly murky waters they took charge of six years ago.
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Let’s consider the facts. Sufficient evidence surfaced a year ago to suggest the involvement of the Telecom Minister, A Raja, in the 2G spectrum scam. Taped conversations didn’t reveal just a smoking gun; they established a gigantic fraud perpetrated on the state by political and corporate players.â€
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The Fourteenth Lok Sabha polls were ordinarily due in September 2004. But in October 2003, elections held in three major states, -Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, till then comfortably held by the Congress- gave us impressive victories. It is these results that prompted the NDA to think in terms of advancing the Parliamentary polls.
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After discussing the issue first within the BJP, next within the NDA, then with some of our other allies like the TDP, Prime Minister Vajpayee decided in early 2004 to recommend dissolution of the Lok Sabha, and fresh elections.
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The political mood in the country seemed very positive in favour of the NDA. Vajpayee’s own popularity was at its peak. The economy was on the upswing. When NDA’s Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha had spoken about a GDP target of eight percent growth, Soniaji had tauntingly dismissed it as ‘Mungeri Lal ke Haseen sapne’ (pipe dreams of Mungeri Lal)! But true to NDA’s promise India’s GDP Growth in the second quarter of 2003 was recorded at 8.4 percent. The fruits of several pioneering initiatives such as construction of a nationwide network of world-class highways, were becoming visible and fetching rich encomiums for the NDA. Because of the remarkable progress made in the information technology sector, India was being lauded around the globe as on way to becoming a ‘software super power’.
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I hold that we lost the 2004 polls mainly because of overconfidence and consequent complacency. Also during those six years in office our organisational network had become loose. Considered statewise, the worst affected from this angle was the largest state of the country, Uttar Pradesh, a state in which we fared poorly both in 2004 as well as 2009.
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When some time back, Shri Nitin Gadkari assumed steward-ship of the party, one of his early statements spoke regretfully about colleagues who had contributed greatly to building up the party, but who shortly before his coming on the scene had parted company. He spoke to me and said it was desirable to bring them back. He specifically discussed with me two names– of Jaswant Singh ji and the second of Umashri Bharati. I spoke to Jaswant Singh ji, and he is back in the party, as active as ever.
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Nitin ji himself talked to Uma ji. Uma ji spoke to me, and on my advice, agreed that she would concentrate hereafter on strengthening the party unit in Uttar Pradesh, which as I have mentioned earlier had become greatly enfeebled. She said she would like to contest also from Uttar Pradesh. But she has sought some time from the Party President before plunging headlong into the fray.
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I was first elected to Parliament in 1970. But as a journalist I have been a close observer of Parliament’s functioning since 1957, the year I was asked by Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya to shift from Rajasthan to Delhi to assist Atalji in his parliamentary work.
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I remember how in those early years, the strongest form of parliamentary protest against Government’s actions or utterances used to be a walk out. Things have changed radically since the seventies. A really vigorous protest has come to mean disruption of the House’s proceedings. Often, according to the media, a walk out may be described as a “tame’’ protest.
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But if a protest of this kind went on for several days, public pressure would start mounting on the protesters to let the House run normally. And such pressure would always force the opposition to withdraw its protest, even if the Government had been unreasonable on an issue.Â
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In the history of the Indian Parliament, this year’s Winter Session has been a total wash out.
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Question Hour was held normally on the first day, but when the Opposition sought to raise thereafter the issue of the three scams− the Spectrum Scam, Commonwealth Games Scam, and the Mumbai Housing Scam, the entire Congress Party was on its feet and shouted down opposition members including the leader of the Opposition.
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It is thus the Congress Party’s protest against the Opposition’s demand that the scams be probed which triggered the disruption process. That has continued day after day. Periodically, members have been hearing reports sometime from Ministers who are expected to know, that a Joint Parliamentary Committee is about to be announced. But the last day of the session has arrived and this has not happened.
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No J.P.C., daily declares the Ruling Party!         Â
No J.P.C., no Session, daily declares the Opposition!
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What has been really surprising for us is the fact that from both the people as well as the media the pressure this time has been: Let not the Opposition relent, government is in a tight spot; don’t let them off the hook !
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L.K. Advani
New Delhi
11 December 2010
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December 11th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
RESPECTED SIR,MY NAME IS SUPREET AND I AM A DOCTOR BY PROFESSION.I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR U..JUST WENT THROUGH THE UR BLOG,BUT SIR WHATS UR COMMENTS ON MR. B S YEDDURAPPA AND HIS LAND SCAMS?BEING THE TALLEST LEADER IN THIS COUNTRY PLEASE DONT BE MUM ON THE ISSUE SIR.AND ABOUT KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA MR.SANTOSH HEGDE,HE TOOK BACK HIS RESIGNATION ON UR REQUEST AND NOW UR PARTY PRESIDENT MR. GADKARI DOUBTING HIS SINCERITY BY CALLING HIM”WORKING LIKE OPPOSITION”THIS COMMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO PEOPLE OF KARNATAKA.PLEASE INTERVENE IN THIS MATTER AND ORDER MR. YEDIYURAPPA TO PROVIDE ALL THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURES AND POWERS AS DEMANDED BY MR.SANTOSH HEGDE AND SHOW TO THIS COUNTRY THAT U R DIFFERENT FROM REST OF THE POLITICIANS..THIS IS MY HUMBLE REQUEST
December 11th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Sir,
nice to see you express your views through this medium. Indeed your views and opinions on this blog are very open and balanced. Will not go into the nitty gritties of politics, just wanted to apprise u of d fact that young India is pretty much aware of the political scene in the d country and does understand the mix between right centre and left profoundly. Personally i feel BJP is on d right track , and d sense of nationalism which it instills in young India is very deep and to be honest urban Inida does take pride in its culture and does realize dat merit will always overpower politics which BJP has shown and proved during these years. Young India shall not get deceived. So keep the good work. Hopefully the youth wing parties like ABVP shall produce many leaders like Mr jaitley who awake d pride within us.
kindly continue with blogs sir.
December 11th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Advaniji, Why are you not moving motion against congress in parliament?
And do u think BJP is tricked by Sonia to build up pressure for manmohan singhji’s ouster and bring in RahulBaba?
Personally, Is MMS as honest as Atalji?
December 12th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
DEAR ADVANIJI,
FOR INDIA TO BECOME SUPER POWER AND FREE FROM CORRUPTION, NARENDRA BHAI MODI SHOULD BECOME THE PRIME MINISTER. RECENTLY I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER QUOTING THE KANCHI SHANKARACHARYA. THE KANCHI SHANKARACHARYA HAS SAID THAT MODIJI CAN BECOME PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA BUT WITH MORE EFFORTS. THE OPPOSITION TO MODIJI IS VERY STRONG OUTSIDE GUJARAT ESPECIALLY FROM CONGRESS, COMMUNIST AND CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES .TO DEFEAT THEM KANCHI SWAMIJI HAS SAID THAT A MANTRA CALLED KAARTAVEERYARJUNA MAHA MANTRA MUST BE CHANTED FOR 12000 TIMES.KAARTAVEERYARJUNA HOMA MUST MUST BE PERFORMED AND KAARTAVEERYARJUNA DEEPA MUST BE LIGHTED. THIS IS AVAILABLE IN THE BOOK “MANTRA RATNAKARA” BY U.G.SUBBARAYA SHASTRI .ALL THE ABOVE RITUALS MUST BE PERFORMED IN 2012 -2013 PERIOD WHEN MODIJI WILL BE UNDER MOON DASHA. DOING THESE RITUALS WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ENTIRE GUJARAT LOVES MODIJI. ANY CITIZEN OF GUJARAT CAN ASK THE BRAMHINS IN GUJARAT TO PERFORM IT.
December 13th, 2010 at 1:47 am
I am a software engineer residing in San Francisco and I have been following Indian politics closely since I moved here in 2003. I haven’t taken US citizenship yet even though its due because my heart is still in my country.
On the other the politics of our country makes me think whether I should return back and contribute for the growth of my country.
I am also proud to say that I support BJP for what they stand for and I was disheartened when congress won the last election. In the wake of all the scams that congress has been involved in what do you think about the recent scam that Karnataka chief minister has been involved in?
Please shed some light on policies BJP has or would like to have when its own ministers are involved in corruption or scams. Will they amend laws that discourage anyone from thinking about under the table deals?
December 13th, 2010 at 4:10 am
Advaniji! Namasthey! I like you-Atalji, BJP, Jan Sangh(more) - but I can not digest BJP soft-pedalling the ride on Manmohan - the arch-puppet of the notorious foreigner, who is hell-bent on stealing Indian Tax Payer’s money and stashing it in Swiss Banks. Your party along with its NDA partners should write a letter to the International Court of Justice asking them to restitute Indian Public Money. You all should move the Honourable Supreme Court to issue a letter-rogatory, suo-motu - I mean without the necessity of Indian Government’s intervention, because of obvious reasons - to the Swiss Government to officially release all the names of the Bandicoots that are stashing Indian people’s hard-earned money in Swiss Banks, before Antonia-Maino moves the money to some other safe havens. When I tried to contact the International Court - they replied that they would only respond to an authority like the RECOGNIZED OPPOSITION BJP-led NDA. Thanks in advance, Pandu RV Kuchibhotla (USA)
December 13th, 2010 at 9:18 am
Advaniji, this year will certainly be remembered as a year of stinking scams……. people have got fed up reading the everyday news of umpteen number of corruption scams taking place in the country. A. Raja and Kalmadi must be sent behind the bars if found guilty. But the real problem lies at the top. PM is watching all these happening like a statue and his mum on all such immensely important issues is just unbearable. I completely support opposition’s stand in the Parliament and request you to work hard to send those looters of the country behind the bars. Hopefully the people will respond favourably.
December 13th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Respected Advani Ji ,
At this phase of life you should be above party politics & create a society of sort to deal with corruption . I m sure u will agree that almost all the problems in our country have a common seed of corruption , be it poverty , poor governance , fight against terrorism , naxal issue , i mean there is not a single thing which has not been affected by corruption. It so happens that Gujarat , M.P. & Bihar , HP & Dr Raman singh are few great state leaders who r really doing good for their state . And other day I heard Mr Prakash Javdekar giving three point solution to root out corruption & he is absolutely right , these three things are few incorruptibly leaders , plus use of Technology to reduce human interference & improved investigative agencies & fast track courts . Please work on this & leave a mark on the pages of history , where you will be appreciated by all not by part of India for this great contribution.
December 13th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Advani ji, you are the only Hope in our country because no one have faith in Congress.
it’s like “Undeclared Emergency”, no one can criticize our PM or PMO, our media lost its credibility,
and we’re bound to accept there decisions, ….. surely this isn’t democracy.
Sir, please don’t let them go ……. otherwise we’ll loose our faith in democracy.
December 14th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Good morning sir : just a thought to share with you . Since ruling party has been adamant on not allowing JPC to probe 2G scam & all efforts of opposition have failed & seems like budget session will go same way . I have a suggestion to make , why not BJP follows Mahatma Gandhi & let some one go on fast unto death on this issue & that may force the government to see the reason . Regards
December 15th, 2010 at 1:03 am
Well Said Sir
December 15th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Dear Sir,
Opposition should be strong to prevent corruption in Government.There are lot of scams in current government but you are not doing enough.You should file a case for each and every scam. What happened to Natwarsingh,What happened to congress for involved in Oil For Food scam.The current Railway Minister openely blames that previous Railway minister produced wrong Budget in Parliament It is serious matter if any minister is giving fake numbers in his budget it means he is a big Deshdrohi so why you are silent ask Mamta Banerjee to give proof to Public and if she is not ready you have to file a case against Lalu prasad by giving the statement of Mamta banerjee.Why don’t you asks Ahmed Patel that he met with one hassan ali (swiss bank account holder) on behalf of sonia gandhi or on his personal purpose?
December 15th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Dear Sir recently swiss government said they are ready to give back the black money to concern country so kindly show your agressiveness and took the signatures of Manmohan singh and Pranab mukherjee and send your partyman personaly to swiss authority to hand over the request of PM.
KINDLY GIVE INTERVIEW ON DAILY BASIS THAT EITHER JPC OR MID TERM POLL.
December 15th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Dear Advaniji,
In 2G spectrum scam, why Raja only is targeted? Is it possible to loot so much of money without senior members knowledge & approval? Is the Finance Ministry, Legal Ministry and PMO’s office not involved? Is it possible to conceal this loot from the congress party president’s & Prime Minister’s knowledge? Why nobody is raising voice on these line?
December 15th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Advaji,
I would like to congratulate you and your party BJP for holding the current scam tainted UPA govt accountable to the people of this nation by pressing for a JPC to probe the 2G spectrum scam. Indian are feeling cheated, frustrated and despondent by the brazen manner in which the current govt is moving from one scam to another.
I humbling requent you to continue agitating in every street and corner of India againt the most corrupt cabinet ever to have assembled under the leadership of Dr.Manmohan Singh in the history of independent India. It would be worth while for your party to lead the anti-corruption crusade againt UPA 2 by holding anti-corruption rallies, satyagrah and dharnas across pan India.
Leaders of the BJP should sensitise our guillable and ignorant masses in the hinterland about the enormity of the 2G spectrum scam and the benefits that 1lac 7000 cr could have bought to our proverty stricken countrymen had the money gone to the exchequer.
December 16th, 2010 at 9:21 am
Sir,
Congress had made this scandal a local, regional issues and washed out their hands off it. So I think BJP also must make it a regional issue as in few months time Tamil Nadu will go for election and this issue if carried up to the mass I think people will have alternative to Dravidian parties in the state.
On most of the news channel debate still BJP spoke person appears in defense of BJP but it is time for BJP to project some local leaders who can be seen as vital face during state elections.
Its enough that we had national level spoke person on all debate but we want to know what is the understanding of local leaders on such issues and what is there take and what they will carry as a message to the people?
So BJP must bring out local spoke person to speak out on this issue at national level. state BJP president must be made to speak out on this issue as BJP must take on AIADMK along with DMK as well in the run for the assemble election.
December 16th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Respected Advaniji,
The UPA has destroyed all the institutions of this country under the ABLE leadership of the Mr.HONEST,Manmohan Singhji,even the EX- CJI paid back to his masters by keepimh mum on the letter written by the judge of the Chennai high court and hot himself appointed as CHARMAIN of the HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION,wht a shame!!!
The SUPREME COURT,The CAG,The People,The MEDIA are haunting the govt on DEEP NECK corruption and indecisiveness ,so dont u feel the common man wants to dislodge this govt and do a service to the COUNTRY?
There is chrony capitalism in the name of liberalisation where ruling party poloticians are investing in busineess for their kith and kin to use this ill gotten wealth to win elections,to start their own media empire and influence people by MONEY and PROPAGANDA!!!
How long do we need to tolerate this governrment!
regards
PUNEETH KUMAR
BENGALURU
December 18th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
dear respected sir,,i worried about recent comment by rahul gandhi,,,telling us i mean “hindu as terrorist “,,we hindu are peace loving people,,we can never hurt anyone,,,..but rahul gandhi i think want to become aurangzeb of new era,,,,we hindu r going in same era as of aurangzeb who used to destroy our temple,stop us from celebrating our festival,killing hindu for their enjoyment,,,i can only say,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,”RAHUL GANDHI IS NEW ERA AURANGZEB”,,,PLZ save us or we will have same status as we have in bangladesh and after partition in pakistan,,,
December 19th, 2010 at 12:32 am
Dear Advanji,
I am sure you are aware Congress is trying to divert the attention of the media, polity and country to so called Hindu/Safforn Terror from corruption and mis-governance. I feel that BJP should strong resist the temptation of joining into that debate and let it be handled by RSS and other non-political organizations, as required. I feel BJP should vociforously continue to harp on corruption, mis-governance, managed price-rise (I feel there is a corruption time bomb ticking here as well). This is critical for the country, people and party.
Regards
Tejasvi, Bangalore
May 13th, 2013 at 1:13 pm
The BJP has been protesting against corruption in the ruling Party at the Centre and removed Yedurappa in Karnataka, knowing it very well that the Party has to pay apolitical price for it. But to give an alternative government at the Centre and other States with corruption tainted non-BJP governments, though the possibilities are favouring the BJP, yet unless the regional satraps are screened carefully before going to the Polls, it would remain an impossibilty. In Odisha, for example, same persons, who were rejected by the people during 2009 elections are coming back to centre stage in Odisha BJP; there by creating confusion among the people whether the BJP is really sincere in removing corruption in governance. The dwindling image of Naveen Patnaik, so far as probity in governance is concerned, might benefit the Congress, when BJP has a fair chance to give an alternative to the BJD.