Business Line, Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications, dated
Monday, May 31, 2010 brings up an interesting article on corruption in
India.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/05/31/stories/2010053150300900.htm
Is the nation in a coma?
Europeans believe that Indian leaders are too blinded by new wealth and
deceit to comprehend that the day will come when the have-nots will hit the
streets.
Mohan Murti
A few days ago I was in a panel discussion on mergers and acquisitions in
Frankfurt, Germany, organised by Euroforum and The Handelsblatt, one of the
most prestigious newspapers in German-speaking Europe.
The other panellists were senior officials of two of the largest carmakers
and two top insurance companies - all German multinationals operating in
India.
The panel discussion was moderated by a professor from the esteemed European
Business School. The hall had an audience that exceeded a hundred well-known
European CEOs. I was the only Indian.
After the panel discussion, the floor was open for questions. That was when
my "moment of truth" turned into an hour of shame, embarrassment - when the
participants fired questions and made remarks on their experiences with the
evil of corruption in India.
The awkwardness and humiliation I went through reminded of The Moment of
Truth, the popular Anglo-American game. The more questions I answered
truthfully, the more the questions get tougher. Tougher here means more
embarrassing.
European disquiet
Questions ranged from "Is your nation in a coma?", the corruption in
judiciary, the possible impeachment of a judge, the 2G scam and to the money
parked illegally in tax havens.
It is a fact that the problem of corruption in India has assumed enormous
and embarrassing proportions in recent years, although it has been with us
for decades. The questions and the debate that followed in the panel
discussion was indicative of the European disquiet. At the end of the Q&A
session, I surmised Europeans perceive India to be at one of those junctures
where tripping over the precipice cannot be ruled out.
Let me substantiate this further with what the European media has to say in
recent days.
In a popular prime-time television discussion in Germany, the panellist, a
member of the German Parliament quoting a blog said: "If all the scams of
the last five years are added up, they are likely to rival and exceed the
British colonial loot of India of about a trillion dollars."
Banana Republic
One German business daily which wrote an editorial on India said: "India is
becoming a Banana Republic instead of being an economic superpower. To get
the cut motion designated out, assurances are made to political allays.
Special treatment is promised at the expense of the people. So, Ms Mayawati
who is Chief Minister of the most densely inhabited state, is calmed when an
intelligence agency probe is scrapped. The multi-million dollars fodder scam
by another former chief minister wielding enormous power is put in cold
storage. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chairs over this kind of unparalleled
loot."
An article in a French newspaper titled "Playing the Game, Indian Style"
wrote: "Investigations into the shadowy financial deals of the Indian
cricket league have revealed a web of transactions across tax havens like
Switzerland, the Virgin Islands, Mauritius and Cyprus." In the same article,
the name of one Hassan Ali of Pune is mentioned as operating with his wife a
one-billion-dollar illegal Swiss account with "sanction of the Indian
regime".
A third story narrated in the damaging article is that of the former chief
minister of Jharkhand, Madhu Koda, who was reported to have funds in various
tax havens that were partly used to buy mines in Liberia. "Unfortunately,
the Indian public do not know the status of that enquiry," the article
concluded.
"In the nastiest business scam in Indian records (Satyam) the government
adroitly covered up the political aspects of the swindle - predominantly
involving real estate," wrote an Austrian newspaper. "If the Indian Prime
Minister knows nothing about these scandals, he is ignorant of ground
realities and does not deserve to be Prime Minister. If he does, is he a
collaborator in crime?"
The Telegraph of the UK reported the 2G scam saying: "Naturally, India's
elephantine legal system will ensure culpability, is delayed."
Blinded by wealth
This seems true. In the European mind, caricature of a typical Indian
encompasses qualities of falsification, telling lies, being fraudulent,
dishonest, corrupt, arrogant, boastful, speaking loudly and bothering others
in public places or, while travelling, swindling when the slightest of
opportunity arises and spreading rumours about others. The list is truly
incessant.
My father, who is 81 years old, is utterly frustrated, shocked and
disgruntled with whatever is happening and said in a recent discussion that
our country's motto should truly be Asatyameva Jayete.
Europeans believe that Indi
