Learning from India

[third eye]

Learning from India – The Express Tribune


Two top Indian politicians were asked to resign on November 9 by the country’s ruling Congress party, due to corruption charges, while investigations were launched to look into accusations against them. Suresh Kalmadi, the infamous chief organiser of the Commonwealth Games held in October, was asked to hand in his resignation as Congress party secretary due to the embarrassment India suffered under his management of the Games. From falling bridges to human excrement found in the flats set up for visiting players, it seemed Kalmadi could do no right. India was pounded by the media whilst visiting teams gave ultimatums of cancelling their participation.

The second politician asked to step down,by Sonia Gandhi, according to Indian media, is the Maharashtra chief minister, Ashok Chavan, for allegedly selling apartments reserved for war widows to politicians and military officers. In both cases, the crime has not yet been proven but the politicians have resigned to preserve the sanctities of the positions they held. India’s record for tackling corruption is by no means stellar but these actions are a step towards transparency and accountability, the hallmarks of democracy.

In Pakistan, we ignore corruption charges. Recently, several politicians were accused of diverting floodwaters into unprotected areas to save their own lands. Calls for an independent inquiry to ascertain what happened were resisted by the Sindh government. Measures to ensure that flood management guidelines are followed in the future may be too much to hope for. And herein lies the contrast with India.

Though corruption is endemic in both South Asian neighbours, India has lived up to its status as an emerging major player, ready for bigger and better things, by holding its leaders accountable. Pakistan must do the same to ensure that the cycle of corruption is broken once and for all.

 

[Hulk]

We were like them in the past, it gets better when slowly you grow democratic setup and rulers realize that voters will not appreciate corruption.

 

[jayron]

I wish some thing is done about the 'Raja of corruption" - A Raja...

 

[third eye]

We were like them in the past, it gets better when slowly you grow democratic setup and rulers realize that voters will not appreciate corruption.

We all are the same - the kind who would gladly sell their souls for personal gain.

Most Indians would feel that nothing is being done to reign in corruption.Was surprised at the last paragraph of the article at post # 1 hence I posted it.

Raja too is on his way out.

But, is simply sacking enough ? What of the loot they made ? They need to be executed like they do in China to such ppl.

 

[jayron]

I think the media has played a huge role in exposing these corruptions and following it up. So congress doesn't have a choice but to take action.

I am wondering if there was any major corruption done during the BJP period..

 

[Sliver]

We all are the same - the kind who would gladly sell their souls for personal gain.

Most Indians would feel that nothing is being done to reign in corruption.Was surprised at the last paragraph of the article at post # 1 hence I posted it.

Raja too is on his way out.

But, is simply sacking enough ? What of the loot they made ? They need to be executed like they do in China to such ppl.

then you learn from china.. while pakistan learns from you.. nothing wrong in it.. countries/ ppl getting better by learning the good things done by others..

 

[StingRoy]

@Sliver.. Don't think third_eye meant that in a literal sense... execution has failed to stop corruption even in China.

But I agree instead of asking them to just resign, they should be given jail terms. If they have swindled the money, auction off their property to get the money back to the govt.
Media has a big role to play in the persecution of these corrupt leaders and there even should be a hall of shame so that the public knows who they really are after they have served their sentence.

 

[Imperial]

@Sliver.. Don't think third_eye meant that in a literal sense... execution has failed to stop corruption even in China.

But I agree instead of asking them to just resign, they should be given jail terms. If they have swindled the money, auction off their property to get the money back to the govt.
Media has a big role to play in the persecution of these corrupt leaders and there even should be a hall of shame so that the public knows who they really are after they have served their sentence.

Inquiries have been ordered, just punishing them because media says they are guilty is violating their fundamental rights. They resigned(made to resign) to preserve the sanctity of the post they held. The charges are not proved yet. Let the law run its course.

Although their is a high chance they will get away with it even with so much media pressure, but its better than punishing them without them having any involvement.

@Raja : Today Jayalalita solved Raja problem for Congress by giving its support if they fire Raja. The only reason he was still safe was because he was not in Congress and gave support of 18 MP's. With that problem gone, his days are few.

Corruption is still at all time high, its only that we are atleast making some progress towards decreasing it.

 

[MYSTIC]

is corruption considered as treason in India? If not it should be (especially for government officials). Than only people would think twice before taking a bribe.