Unchained Corrupt

How many know that they were once known as the ABC of Tennis? – Vijay Amritraj, Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors. At times Amritraj was far better than the other two. In 1973 Amritraj beat the legendary Rod Laver in the US Open to lose later to the final winner Ken Rosewall. At Wimbledon, he was two sets up against defending champion Borg in 1979 and up 4-1 in the fourth set before losing the match. He was two sets up against Connors at Wimbledon 1981  but lost the last 3 sets to lose in five. He had also beaten Borg in 1974 at the US Open. One has to wonder how a talented and skilled player like Amritraj could lose after being two sets up so often. They used to attribute his losses to lack of “Killer instinct”. In a match, when the opponent is down, you don’t give him a toe hold at the door. Vijay Amritraj will rue those missed chances forever.

That’s true for BJP too. A severe lack of “killer instinct” to destroy the enemies of India and the corrupt. In 1977 the “Khichdi” govt of Janata Party couldn’t prosecute IndiraG for her Emergency-crimes because there were power-hungry individuals and IndiraG could easily bring down the govt. She returned to power because of the stupid infighting among these individuals. Then during the ABV govt, SoniaG brought it down once. ABV returned to power with greater strength as also the Kargil victory. Yet, the corrupt Congis and their heads weren’t put away. There is hardly any doubt that the ABV govt let the Bofors crooks get away. ABV too harped heavily on development and “Sabka Saath”. What happened? BJP-NDA got thrown out in 2004.

Development alone does not sell with the Indian public – Social issues are equally important for the electorate. ModiSarkar does not seem to learn this. Harping only on development, Modi has ignored social issues and conspiracies and reacted very late. From Christians under attack to the GauRakshak issue, ModiSarkar has allowed fake campaigns and conspiracies to spiral out of control. Modi started with a “CongressMuktBharat” campaign coupled with promise of strong action against the corrupt. Now Venkiah Naidu says “we don’t want CongressMuktBharat”. Take that! That’s the killer instinct of BJP. Still, that is not a problem. On every social issue the BJP has done nothing but fire-fighting, especially at events by the PM, rather than proactively destroying conspiracies and pulling up the conspirators, particularly in the media.

There is a certain element of cowardice in the manner in which BJP ministers and spokies approach issues in public discourse. They suffer a severe inferiority complex and lack confidence. This, even when they can easily dismatle the lies as people on SM do. And the other arms of the party also start firefighting as this tweet suggests:

BJP ministers and members should know that except for a handful of allies they have (one of them a constant tantrum-thrower) every other party, large parts of media, anti-national NGOs and activists are ranged against them. Most of the anti-BJP block is also funded and directed by foreign agencies. Given that, ModiSarkar has constantly pulled back in fear of acting against the corrupt. The very cornerstone of Modi’s campaign – Punishing the corrupt and being a “Chowkidar” of the national treasury. He promised to do it in one year:

Yes! That’s the promise he made. But we all know politicians indulge in hyperbole and excessive chest-thumping. For instance, Modi saying he will pack all illegal Bangladeshis in NE and send them back home. BJP let Vijay Mallya escape from right under their noses. They are unwilling to prosecute a corrupt channel like NDTV whose boss, Prannoy Roy, doesn’t even respond to IT notices. And on the terror-front, it took Bangladesh to tell ModiSarkar that “Little ZakirNaik” is a terror-preacher. He too has escaped and gone abroad. ModiSarkar is still sleeping over many such criminals floating around. Like with many other cases, it is Subramaniam Swamy who is battling the corrupt all alone.

That NDTV has laundered money or involved in financial scams is long in the public domain. Blessed by the former FM P. Chidambaram, ModiSarkar seems to be protecting rather than prosecuting the corrupt. Even in the case of Karti PC ModiSarkar seems to be shielding him. The lame actions (or inaction) out of fear is narrated by MD Nalapat writing in the SundayGuardian:

“By the start of 2013, most voters accepted as fact the BJP’s incessant cry of the UPA government being a collection of the corrupt. However, since coming into office on 26 May 2014, there has not even been an FIR filed against any senior member of the Manmohan Singh Cabinet, much less a prosecution. Even action against those ministers which had been initiated under the UPA appears to have slowed. This is being touted by the Congress as “proof” that the many BJP allegations made in the past of their misconduct were mere political hyperbole. Sonia Gandhi has indeed been having to face a spot of bother over National Herald, but that has been due to an individual acting in his private capacity and not the government. Had the newly installed Modi government launched prosecutions in 2014 itself of top all-India leaders of the Congress, the worst that could have happened was precisely what took place: Congress non-cooperation in Parliament”.

And Modi keeps on harping about “Consensus” and such lame tactics. This is the first party to receive a clear majority and mandate from the people since 1984. Yet, it doesn’t seem to give any courage or confidence to ModiSarkar to act firmly. Among other things, this is what he is mouthing incessantly:

People did not give you 282+ to do everything on consensus. Maybe on national security or foreign policy issues some consensus might make sense. But seeking consensus in everything simply means making laws and policies that suit your opponents more than what suits and is right for India. Don’t take the title of “Mahatma Modi”, as some of your Bhakts call you, all that seriously. Nobody wants you to play Mahatma. Consensus can exist among thieves also.

A gang of 4 thieves share the loot equally regardlesss

of who  brings how much loot. That’s consensus and

sharing equally is a good Value system.

But it DOES NOT make stealing and looting a sound principle.

ModiSarkar needs to operate on sound principles and not bogus consensus. Before LS2014 some folks from BJP too wanted a weaker mandate. They were called the 160Club. They were hoping that such a lower number of seats would lead to a coalition which would keep Modi out of PMship. People wanted nothing of that sort and gave a clear mandate and their choice of PM was also clear. ModiSarkar, especially some of his incompetent ministers are unwilling to imagine this situation:

Imagine Congress had got 282. What would they have done?

They would have run amok and made all kinds of laws and policies

and cared two hoots for consensus.

A few days back, Congi foot-soldier Sachin Pilot was blabbering on NDTV that this is not a liberal govt and its only agenda is Hindutva. A dumb Sambit Patra listened to this nonsense without any counter to it. Media morons keep blabbering all kinds of nonsense as do the Congis. Has ModiSarkar made any law or policy yet that reflects Hindutva? Has ModiSarkar reversed or modified any law or policy that is discriminatory towards Hindus? (Like the RTE or Temple laws?) NO! ModiSarkar has done no such thing. Whether its UCC, Article 370 or any such issue, ModiSarkar has not moved one single inch and nobody is finding faults on that front. But to go easy on the corrupt is a national issue on which no consensus can be had. For instance, what stops ModiSarkar from a Central law banning cow slaughter? This, when even Congis have no alternative but to support it:

Increasingly, ModiSarkar looks more and more like the previous regime on social issues and where Hindutva is concerned. There is not much to distinguish it except the fact that this is govt without any corruption or scams so far. But keeping the corrupt unchained does leave a serious question on the willingness and courage of ModiSarkar to act decisively. It appears more like protecting and shielding the corrupt, rather than prosecuting them.