It's a pity Modi government's war against corruption is only for opposition parties
Opposition leaders are facing an increasingly serious attack under the Modi regime. While leaders are attacked, so are their relatives charged with corruption, tax evasion, black money stashed abroad, and even criminal cases.
Apparently, almost all such targets are non-NDA parties, as well as the civil society — from "inconvenient" media outlets, NGOs to universities.
This has been going on since the inception of the Modi regime. There has been no unified resistance from either political parties or civil society. No suo motu investigation from the high courts or the Supreme Court. Media channels have been sought to be cowed downed or bought into silence. Nothing of this level (of vendetta) has happened before in post-Independence history. But few in India actually investigate past transgressions now. It is difficult. It is dangerous.
Just look at today's (May 17) press coverage. The CBI (which was famously called "a caged parrot" by the Supreme Court) on May 16 conducted raids at premises linked to Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, and the residence of Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea among 14 locations spread across Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi in connection with a case of alleged corruption. The raids followed an FIR against Karti and INX Media, as the latter's FDI proposal of 2007 was "deceitful and fallacious" but approved by the then finance minister P Chidambaram.
Great political archaeology!
An alleged crime of 2007 has been discovered in 2017! What was the Modi government doing from 2014 onwards? The CBI, ED, IT department, etc existed then as well, and PM Modi was very much in command. The CBI must have had a good long rest for 10 years, before being awakened to the truth. Not only this, but at least 20 firms which allegedly had transactions with Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited (ASCPL) and Chess Management Services, two firms linked to Karti Chidambaram, have also been targeted. So it is a political vendetta, and not just a case of corruption, as has happened also in the past but not in such a sweeping manner.
This is not to say that the corrupt shouldn't face action, but why just opposition parties?
Obviously, the aim is to further blacken the image of the Congress, and politically cripple P Chidambaram who has been writing in the media questioning the political and economic policies of the NDA government, especially its demonetisation policy and the impact on the Indian economy.
Chidambaram has responded to the raids and allegations stating that he could not be silenced, and that he would continue to "speak and write". His son Karti alleged, "I am being targeted politically and personally to besmirch the name of my father... They have not seized any documents and cannot prove any charges against me. I have done anything wrong."
In the meanwhile, another drama was being enacted. Based on information of alleged shell companies and benami deals of ₹1,000 crore, the income tax department on May 16 conducted searches and surveys on at least 22 locations across Delhi and adjoining areas allegedly linked to RJD chief Lalu Prasad.
This led finance minister Arun Jaitley to state, "People in high positions acquiring assets through shell companies is not a small matter. The day of reckoning has come for many. They all will be accountable."
But when charges came up in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), whistle-blowers like Kirti Azad and Bishen Singh Bedi were silenced. Arun Jaitley, as the DDCA president, is aware of this public perception, though his probity had not been questioned. But have the Augean stables been cleaned?
UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath is an alleged history sheeter. Yet his government denied permission to prosecute Yogi Adityanath in a 2007 riots case. The sharp rise in communal incidents after he recently became the CM has led to questions about the legality of the political-religious activities such crimes by cow vigilantes, rise in attacks on minorities, closing down of meat shops, etc, some of which have been overruled by the courts.
And what about Baba Ramdev?
How did he manage to amass such huge fortunes on the basis of Ayurvedic products, with outlets all across the country? He may well be above board. But would a secular politician be given the same kid-gloves treatment?
The biggest, most explosive question is why is the government so deafeningly silent on the huge horde of black money exposed by the "Panama papers" based on the investigation by the International Consortium of Journalists (ICJ).
Reportedly, 500 Indians have off-shore accounts, worth billions of dollars. These include industrialists, politicians and actors. One Indian newspaper worked with the ICJ earlier, but has nothing to say now.
Why is the media so silent?
Is the government of India suppressing this information?
What are its stakes, what are its aims? Is the deafening silence, a bare-faced attempt to cover up a humungous scandal? In a later case, Ram Jethmalani who contacted the German government, which was willing to give vital information to the government of India, pointed this out to the Union government.
The government did not respond. Jethmalani broke all ties with the Modi government.
Clean corruption, yes! But physician, heal thyself.