Marred by corruption in the decade of its rule at the Centre, the Congress would be more comfortable with the rise of parties and leaders similarly tainted by graft. Narendra Modi is a problem because he is different
This is a strange time. I almost feel like quoting the first lines of A Tale Of Two Cities,but am able to restrain the self-indulgence. A schizophrenic Congress is synonymous with corruption; scams are coming out of its darkness like well-fed maggots, for whom this has been a very productive season indeed. But the top Congress people are probably taking their tranquilisers in order to keep their cool and focus. They abuse Mr Narendra Modi and the BJP with the same tired lines, praise proxy voodoo doll Arvind Kejriwal, keep quiet about all the other parties, talk feelingly about the poor, democratic values (while it runs a dynastic rule), and inclusiveness, (while it sees much less than there is to see in Muzaffarnagar for example).
The hoardings and television shorts around the country with trite slogans like “Rajniti Nahi Kajniti” tells you how the advertising industry will try and service your illusion every time. But they are only doing their jobs.
The latest attempt at daylight robbery, allegedly involving an unrepentant Robert Vadra acting for DlF ltd once again, is for blocks of flats a kilometre away, and overlooking the Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The 22 acre property is worth about Rs 10,000 crore in the open market, but needs to be absorbed into the President’s Estate at any nominal cost, with a smart little Ordinance to get all the greed out of the way. This particularly since there is a helipad mooted and in the offing for the use of the President and others.
Meanwhile, owner DlF has managed that root of all manna in the property game, the ClU (change of land use), for the expenditure of a few crore, between 2010 and 2012, and obtained plan sanctions too. There is a chilling account of a proposed 39 metre wall to block a view of the President’s Estate. This, to get over security objections, presumably the better to site snipers away from the popular gaze.
The Prime Minister’s Office saw nothing wrong in this bizarre proposal. The Intelligence Bureau ditto. The Ministry of Urban Development, overseen by veteran businessman-cum-politician Kamal Nath, passed the proposal up to four storeys, with a review clause to take it up to eight!
It was the President’s Secretariat that had to cry enough, since no one else is looking out for it. And the DlF is as yet feigning innocence, and there is nary a peep from Mr Vadra. Why was this 22 acre development pending fire ever since the DlF bought it, dairy land, over from Keventer’s successors in 1992IJ Patience, it must be noted, goes with the acquisition of great wealth.
The DlF knew it had a wonderful piece of real estate and must have been waiting for a powerful agent that could make the Government do whatever it wanted. The security of the President, the Cabinet, visiting dignitaries etc perambulating on the Rashtrapati Bhavan lawns, be damned. The DlF says the hoo-hah is exaggerated and there are several other tall building in the area, and says the Samrat Hotel overlooks the Prime Minister’s residence. The idea being to suggest — if it is good enough for the Prime Minister, then why not the President and his guestsIJ
For a commercial company to care only about its investment and returns is appropriate. But how does a Union Government, in all its oversight and institutions, blithely fall in lineIJ And look at the timing. It is like a final grab at the buffet table despite pockets bulging; unless we are going to be treated to even more revelations in the remaining days.
Perhaps it has been cynically calculated, that all the other noise, on the Rolls Royce engine supply to Hindustan Aeronautics limited and kickbacks of Rs 500 crore paid, the AgustaWestland helicopter cancelled contract in which Italy is holding over a Rs 1,000 crore of the taxpayers’ money, the other pending scams without number, including the telecom and mining ones, involving tens of thousands of crores, will swamp this item. Everything is awaiting judicial attention, and this will obscure, overwhelm and hide this little gift to the DlF. Besides, the electioneering is intensifying to full pitch at present, and there is no room on any contender’s side to allow distractions.
And Mr Kejriwal, who ironically came to prominence as an anti-corruption crusader, is very comfortable sitting in the lap of the Congress and talking of communalism as his new area of focus. Some reports say corruption and all the other ills he promised to banish actually got worse during his 49 days in office. That in itself is not surprising. Superman could not have done all that he promised in such a short time. It is his mistaking his lowly jhadoo as a magic wand a la Harry Potter that caused the mess. And it is threatening to do more of the same because he won’t leave off with his reckless rabble-rousing.
His attack on Reliance is also reportedly at the behest of the Congress. Mr Mukesh Ambani has drawn closer to Mr Modi and the BJP, and the Congress, famous for its vindictiveness, wants revenge. Mr Kejriwal’s pro-Muslim avatar is not washing nationally, but in Delhi, the people, according to a new poll, seem to want the AAP with a 46 per cent projected vote share and an implied thumping majority. But like the Delhi middle-class and the three-wheeler workers, more people may walk away from the firebrand that hobnobs with Maoists and fails to deliver. The BJP State unit, now under the clean and well-liked Harsh Vardhan, needs to urgently strategise.
Why has UPA’s 10 years been so marred by corruptionIJ First, both general elections in 2004 and 2009 were unexpected wins. But now, why is it clear that the Congress has lost interest in growing the economy despite its pronouncementsIJ Why does every ministry, bureaucrat, MP and MlA under the umbrella of the UPA feels free to make money now with no fear of retributionIJ Is it because it has become common knowledge that the Congress high command cannot deliver the votes anymore. It is sitting on a precarious and weakened perch, hoping massive welfarism and letting all and sundry make hay while the sun shines will see it through.
The Congress certainly believes so, and considers that other, equally corrupt parties, are more comfortable with its methods. And there are some powerful foreign powers, including the US, who would like that very much. A weak, corrupt, malleable, insecure India can be used very well. Many major powers are not looking forward to both China and India becoming strong and difficult to manage. China is tough enough to tackle. Russia too is not for turning. A weak India can well suit the global powerplay.