Corruption Rampant in India, BJP to Observe Anti Black Money Day
Now it is being observed that India has become a kakistocracy where the government is under the control of the worst, least qualified, and most unscrupulous people. ~ Rakesh Raman
By Rakesh Raman
Close on the heels of opposition parties’ announcement to observe November 8 as Black Day in India, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called it an “Anti Black Money Day.”
The Opposition Coordination Committee – a group of 18 opposition parties in India – met Monday to discuss the adverse effects of demonetization imposed last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Legislators, along with civil society leaders, have resolved to observe November 8, 2017, the first anniversary of the Demonetization Disaster, as Black Day in the country.
Modi had demonetized currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 on November 8 last year with the belief that his decision will help check corruption and stop the flow of black money in the country.
[ Demonetization by Modi: Civil Unrest Spreads in India ]
But Modi’s decision has caused a total chaos and corruption has, in fact, increased manifold in India. Nobel laureate and world’s top economist Professor Amartya Sen says Modi’s demonetization decision has showed the authoritarian nature of the Indian government.
Similarly, former Prime Minister of India and leading economist Dr. Manmohan Singh said in India’s Parliament that Modi’s demonetization scheme is a case of “organized loot and legalized plunder.”
Report on Corruption in India
A new “Freedom in the World 2017” report – released by Freedom House, a Washington-based independent watchdog organization – highlights rampant political and bureaucratic corruption in India. It reveals that corruption has a negative effect on government efficiency and economic performance.
“Though politicians and civil servants at all levels are regularly caught accepting bribes or engaging in other corrupt behavior, a great deal of corruption goes unnoticed and unpunished,” the report said in its findings. Click here to read the report.
According to Congress, Modi’s reckless demonetization decision resulted in a loss of over 15 lakh (1.5 million) livelihoods as a direct result of the note ban, and nearly 400 people died while standing in long bank queues to get their currency exchanged.
While Modi’s BJP is making false claims that demonetization has brought the corruption level down in the country, BJP’s top brass is facing serious corruption charges.
[ Read: Shah Scandal: Modi Government Breaks The Wire ]
Besides unchecked bureaucratic and political corruption, PM Modi himself is also facing serious corruption charges.
Top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has leveled corruption charges on Modi when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.
According to Rahul Gandhi, Modi had received Rs. 40 crore (approximately USD $6 million) as corruption money from a company in 2013-14 just before he became the PM.
He also said that it was revealed by the documents of Income Tax department when it raided the company during that period.
Opposition parties in India are up in arms against the government, as they are demanding a thorough inquiry into the alleged corruption deals of Modi.
People in India expect the Supreme Court to act in Modi’s corruption case. As Pakistan’s Supreme Court disqualified him over corruption charges against his family members, Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif resigned from his post.
[ Corruption Case: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif Resigns, PM Modi May Follow Suit ]
The Supreme Court ruled that Sharif is not fit to hold office and ordered a criminal investigation against him and his family members involved in corruption. The court also decided to disqualify Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
Sharif’s disqualification was ordered when an investigation following the 2015 Panama Papers leak found that his children have stashed away corruption money in offshore companies.
However, Prashant Bhushan – an Indian lawyer, activist and politician – who had revealed information about Modi’s own corruption said that the Supreme Court of India is not working freely and has refused to take appropriate action against Modi.
[ DDA Corruption Increasing in Delhi Housing Societies ]
Although no inquiry against the political bosses in India can reveal the truth, opposition parties including Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) have demanded thorough investigation in the Modi case.
In fact, Modi is not the only politician in his political group BJP who is facing corruption charges. Among the BJP leaders and Modi’s friends who are facing serious corruption charges include:
- Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj,
- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley,
- Rajasthan Chief Minsiter Vasundhara Raje,
- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and
- Former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.
But the Modi government did not hold any proper inquiry in all these cases and these politicians are having a ball with public money. However, it is now expected that Modi will take a lesson from Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif and resign from his post without waiting for court’s order.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a government’s National award-winning journalist and social activist. He has formed an environment-protection group called Green Group in Delhi. Earlier, he had been associated with the United Nations (UN) through United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as a digital media expert to help businesses use technology for brand marketing and business development. He also runs a free school for deserving children under his NGO – RMN Foundation.
Photo courtesy: BJP
