Open Letter 24.10.2014 To, Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, New Delhi. Subject :- Suggestion to introduce “Conflict of Interest” law in Parliament, to curb corruption in high places besides making the Indian polity accountable and transparent. Sir, Since you are making sincere efforts to curb corruption, bring in transparency and accountability in the polity of India, I suggest you to introduce a very befitting legislation termed “Conflict of Interest”, in the ensuing winter session of the Parliament. Needless to mention, all developed nations like USA, Canada, UK etc., having experienced similar rampant corruption, nepotism and favoritism by its law makers and law enforcers, have implemented the said law in their countries. Instead of trying to reign in each of your Minister or a bureaucrat as noticed recently, Conflict of Interest law if implemented in India, would go a long way to cleanse our political system with one stroke. The essence of this law is to disable powerful politicians, bureaucrats and even judicial officers, to sit over judgment on vital government policies which can further their deep vested business interests. For instance, the Badal clan has cornered a lion’s share of governance in Punjab, by controlling 28 of the 55 portfolio’s of the state. In a well thought out plan, this clan is ordering the respective departments to tailor make govt. policies to suit their vested business interests, bringing out a clear conflict of interest directly affecting the earnings of the state. The executive of the state have developed a deep nexus with the Badal family and are indulging in quid pro quo, to enjoy lucrative positions of power in the government. As a specific example, I cite the case of transport companies owned by Sukhbir Badal namely Orbit Aviation, Dabwali Transport, Taj Travels, Hargobind Travels etc., that have been allocated hundreds of routes and permits in gross violation of the norms. It is surprising to note that, while the tax structure for ordinary govt. owned buses is Rs. 3 (Motor Vehicle Tax) per vehicle per day, the MVT for luxury buses(Integral Coaches) of the Badals the tax is only Rs. 1.75. Similarly, the fares of luxury buses has been fixed at 166 paise per passenger per KM, it is double that of ordinary govt. buses at 83 paisa per KM. This amounts to handing out large profits to self owned transport companies. In the absence of the proposed Conflict of Interest law, the Badal clan has virtually hijacked all the vital trades of the state, from where the profits could have gone to the state treasury but are now filling up the coffers of the said clan. Apart from the Badal family, we have many other regional satraps such as Ms J. Jayalalitha, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chandra Babu Naidu, Omar Abdullah etc. who are controlling different types of business empires at the cost of public exchequer. This is equally true for the bureaucracy of our country, who being extremely powerful executors of government policies, are promoting the business interests of self and their families. Therefore, in order to prevent “loot” of taxpayers money by its very custodians, it is highly imperative and need of the hour to implement a legislation like the Conflict of Interest, to save it from the clutches of these greedy politicians and bureaucrats. I hope my suggestion would be considered seriously and above partisan politics. Thanking you, With warm regards, Sukhpal Singh Khaira Ex-MLA Spokesperson, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 08:55:44 +0000
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