Mr. Prime Minister, whom you are fooling? (M S Shanker) Dr Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister, on his way back from China on Board Air India Special flight, addressed the captive selective media representatives and spoke on three issues: the “Coalgate” scam probe; series of ceasefire violations by Pakistan and Indias relationship with China and Russia. Answering the question on “Coalgate” scam whether the CBI has the right to interrogate the Prime Minister and crossing the ‘Laxman Rekha”, Manmohan Singh started by remarking that “Well, let me say that this matter is now in the courts and I wouldnt like to comment on that.” To yet another query over the demand of opposition that why shouldnt the Prime Minister also be open to questioning by the CBI Question, the PM replied “I am not above the law of the land. If there is anything that the CBI, or for that matter, anybody wants to ask, I have nothing to hide.” Furthermore, on judicial over activism by the Supreme Court in ordering and monitoring probes in the various alleged corruption scandals as well as laying out policy directions thereby contributing to what your critics term policy paralysis, the PM replied “I wouldnt like to go into what is happening in the Court. The Supreme Court is the final court of our country. I wouldnt like to comment on what the Court does or what the Court does not.” With hyper active media, particularly visual broadcasting media carrying out an aggressive campaign on corruption, the PM replies naturally provoked criticism particularly PMs reply that “I am not above the law of the land.” Even the “Aam Admi” today is aware that no one is above the law of the land as per our democratic norms. Whom is the PM trying to fool or hoodwink? Let me recount the postures adopted by the PM through the PMO on the “Coalgate” issue. Before leaving on his visit to Russia and China, the PM stated that there was “no wrong doing in the case referred to by CBI regard to Kumarmangalam Birla and the case against former Coal Secretary PC Parakh.” During the monsoon session of the Parliament, the PM after reading out a prepared statement left the session abruptly without even answering questions that the opposition parties may ask. And the “Caged” JPC Chairman refused adamantly the opposition party members demand to probe the role of the PM as Minister of Coal for over two years now. It clearly reflects the ‘dilly-dallying’ tactics adopted by the Congress Party to protect the PM and the PMO. Now, Mr. Parakh’s letter reveals that no action was taken by the PM and the PMO to order enquiry into the points made by concerning existence of ‘Coal Mafia” even within Coal Ministry. What is more significant is that “Sibu Soren” was entrusted the responsibility to overlook the Ministry. And, there was even a demand by politicians to shift Parakh out of the Coal Ministry/ Add to it, the plea of ‘missing files’ in the PMO, the Coal Ministry and other concerned Ministry’s and the phenomenal delay in tracing them. In addition, one needs to also take into account former Law Minister Ashwini Kumar’s attempt to arm-twist the CBI into submission which was followed by his resignation. Considering such facts in public domain, the key issue that concerns majority is simple. Fine, Mr. Prime Minister, you may be willing to be probed, but can the CBI pick up the courage to quiz you, as it works directly under you? Whom you are trying to fool by making such ‘bold’ statement? You think, people of this country are still gullible and are unaware of the functioning of the so called ‘premier’ investigative agencies like either the CBI or Enforcement Directorate? Is the PM is willing to face only coal block allotment to Hindalco or allotment of all those coal blocks to various players during his tenure as in-charge Coal Minister, in addition to his Prime Ministerial functioning? Despite the fact that the Supreme Court is monitoring the CBI probe there is no guarantee that the CBI can carry out a fair and unbiased investigation if you remain in office. After all, the Supreme Court has already observed that the CBI is like a “Caged Parrot”. If the PM is so confident (No, we have no intention to suspect your personally integrity, but indeed apprehensive that you are no different from being a “caged parrot” to the Congress High Command. That apart, Mr PM you should neither forget your own remarks against your political mentor and former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao in that ‘Harshad Mehta bribe scam’ – even Caesars Wife is not above suspicion’, or yet another great statement of yet another former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s famous statement soon after the post Godhra massacre – Raj Dharma should be followed! If the PM believes in ethics, morals and values, he should relinquish office just for a month or so and insist the investigating agencies to carry out an in depth probe so that his “Mr. Clean” image is reestablished. In sum, there is no point in pleading about your complicity or otherwise to be judged by history. Majority of your own followers are slowly veering around that the UPA-I and II have tarnished the brand image or legacy of India as the most corrupt regimes to transact business during the last 66 years of independence.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 03:01:30 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015