EDITORIAL

Looters Raj

IF the Emperor is not wearing any clothes (as discussed in these columns last issue), then the members of his cabinet are being literally caught with their pants down.  The minister for civil aviation, the country is being informed, has now paid the bills for his and his families five-star vacation in Goa!  This has happened after the media exposed the fact that the bill was being borne by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the largest profit-making public sector  undertaking under his ministry. It is only when this fact was exposed that the minister condescended to pay up. Clearly, if such exposure were not to happen, the milking of PSUs by  ministers of the Vajpayee cabinet would have continued unabated. 

It must be recollected that when the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) raised the matter of ministers milking the PSUs directly with the prime minister some time earlier, there was considerable consternation both in the Parliament and outside. Mr. Vajpayee, as is his wont,  thundered bombastically that action would be taken after full examination of the facts.  Forget any  action, he has obviously been patronising the virtual loot of the PSUs by his ministers.

What is worse is the exposure of further facts of the activities of the minister for civil aviation.  The Asian Age (10 February, 2004) says that the minister "got the AAI to lay a lawn at his residence and provide a "full-time" gardener, build an extra room at his residence, provide a large number of air-conditioners, air coolers, water purifiers, oil-based room heaters, geysers, false ceilings and window curtains at his residence.   He even ordered the Airports Authority of India to build a  fountain on the lawn (laid down by the AAI) at his residence." 

This has been substantiated by facsimile  copies of the relevant orders and bills.  But, it would be like asking for the moon, to expect this minister to resign or for Vajpayee to take any action.  Such are the standards of political morality that this Vajpayee government has established.

Not long ago, when Vajpayee thundered, once again, in the Parliament on the Judeo and Jogi episodes, many hailed him as the `statesman'.  A premier south Indian-based national newspaper, in fact, hailed him to have risen to "Nehruvian heights"!  Conveniently forgetting, of course, that from tehelka, down to the innumerable scams that have taken place under his leadership, Vajpayee has, till date, neither initiated deterrent action against any of the culprits nor created any atmosphere that enhances political morality. Political morality, under his leadership has reached its nadir. 

What is more brazen is the prime minister's shameless defence of the advertisements being put out by his government’s every ministry and department  running into thousands of crores of rupees. The Chief Election Commissioner, in his first announcement after taking office, has voiced his agony at such activities and called for a restraint on the part of the government.  Legally, the model code of conduct can apply only when the elections are announced.  This is the argument advanced by Vajpayee.  This is akin to the legal refuge that Savarkar took in the Gandhi assassination case.

The day the union cabinet decided to recommend the dissolution of the House, it is imminent that an early election would take place.  Despite the legality, the fact remains that the country has already entered the election mode.  It is only natural that the  code of conduct must apply from the date of the cabinet decision. Mr. Vajpayee & Co. however, suffer from no such moral  compulsions. They are ruling to loot and loot they shall.  In the process, to entice the voters, they solicit their support with garish makeup and packaging.  The "shining India" campaign and the multi-colour full page advertisements being put out by all sundry ministries and departments, some of such departments which the people did not even know actually existed, are testimony to this. 

If there is any "feel good" factor in our country,  it is the following:  The Indian people are feeling good that they have an early opportunity to rid ourselves of such a government.  The thousands of crores being used in this nauseating  propaganda blitz could have, instead, been used to provide succour to those who continue to languish and die out of starvation. Such are the issues on which the people shall vote and not on the basis of an illusory orchestrated euphoria.