Rajniti Nahi Kajniti
This is a strange time. I almost feel like quoting the first
lines of A Tale Of Two Cities, but am
able to restrain the self-indulgence. A
schizophrenic Congress is synonymous with corruption; scams are coming out of
its darkness like well-fed maggots, for whom this has been a very productive
season indeed. But the top Congress people are probably taking their
tranquilizers in order to keep their cool and focus. They abuse Modi and BJP
with the same tired lines, praise proxy voodoo doll Kejriwal, keep quiet about
all the other parties, talk feelingly
about the poor, democratic values ( while it runs a dynastic rule), and
inclusiveness, (while it sees much less than there is to see in Muzaffarnagar
for example).
The hoardings and TV shorts around the country with trite
slogans like Rajniti Nahi Kajniti
tells you how the advertising industry will try and service your illusion every
time. But they are only doing their jobs.
The latest attempt at daylight robbery, allegedly involving an unrepentant Robert Vadra acting for DLF Ltd. once again, is for blocks of flats a kilometre away, and overlooking the Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The 22 acre property is worth about 10,000 crores in the open market, but needs to be absorbed into the President’s Estate at any nominal cost, with a smart little ordinance to get all the greed out of the way. This particularly since there is a helipad mooted and in the offing for the use of the President and others.
Meanwhile, owner DLF has managed that root of all manna in the property game, the CLU (Change of land use), for the expenditure of a few crores, between 2010 and 2012, and obtained plan sanctions too. There is a chilling account of a proposed 39 metre wall to block a view of the President’s Estate. This, to get over security objections, presumably the better to site snipers away from the popular gaze!
The PM’s Office saw nothing wrong in this bizarre proposal.
The Intelligence Bureau ditto. The Urban Development Ministry, overseen by veteran
businessman cum politician Kamal Nath
passed the proposal up to 4 storeys, with a review clause to take it up
to 8!
It was the
President’s Secretariat that had to cry enough, since no one else is looking
out for it. And DLF is as yet feigning innocence, and there is nary a peep from
Vadra. Why was this 22 acre development pending fire ever since DLF bought it,
dairy land, over from Keventer’s Successors in 1992? Patience, it must be
noted, goes with the acquisition of great wealth.
DLF knew they had a wonderful piece of real estate and must
have been waiting for a powerful agent that could make the Government do
whatever it wanted. The security of the President, the Cabinet, visiting
dignitaries etc. perambulating on the Rashtrapati Bhavan lawns, be damned. DLF
says the hoohah is exaggerated and there are several other tall building in the
area, and says the Samrat Hotel overlooks the PM’s residence. The idea being to
suggest if it is good enough for the PM then why not the President and his guests?
For a commercial company to care only about its investment
and returns is appropriate. But how does a Central Government, in all its
oversight and institutions, blithely fall in line? And look at the timing. It
is like a final grab at the buffet table despite pockets bulging; unless we are
going to be treated to even more revelations in the remaining days.
Perhaps it has been cynically calculated, that all the other
noise, on the Rolls Royce engine supply to HAL and kickbacks of Rs. 500 crores
paid, The Westland Helicopter cancelled contract in which Italy is holding over
a 1000 crores of the tax payers money, the other pending scams without number,
including the telecom and mining ones, involving tens of thousands of crores,
will swamp this item. Everything is awaiting judicial attention, and this will
obscure, overwhelm and hide this little gift to DLF. Besides, the
electioneering is intensifying to full pitch at present, and there is no room
on any contender’s side to allow distractions.
And Kejriwal, who ironically came to prominence as an
anti-corruption crusader, is very comfortable sitting in the lap of Congress
and talking communalism as his new area of focus. Some reports say corruption
and all the other ills he promised to banish actually got worse during his 49
days in office. That in itself is not surprising. Superman could not have done
all that he promised in such a short time. It is his mistaking his lowly jhadoo
as a magic wand a la Harry Potter that caused the mess. And it is threatening
to do more of the same because he won’t leave off with his reckless rabble-rousing.
His attack on Reliance is also reportedly at the behest of
Congress. Mukesh Ambani has drawn closer to Modi and the BJP, and Congress,
famous for its vindictiveness, wants revenge. Kejriwal’s pro-Muslim avatar is
not washing nationally, but in Delhi, the people, according to a new poll, seem
to want the AAP with a 46% projected vote share and an implied thumping
majority. But like the Delhi middle
class and the Three-wheeler workers,
more people may walk away from the firebrand that hobnobs with Maoists
and fails to deliver. The BJP State Unit, now under the clean and well-liked
Harsh Vardhan, needs to urgently strategise.
Why has UPA’s 10 years been so marred by corruption? One,
both general elections in 2004 and 2009 were unexpected wins. But now, why is
it clear that Congress has lost interest in growing the economy despite its
pronouncements? Why does every ministry, bureaucrat, MP and MLA under the
umbrella of the UPA feel free to make money now with no fear of retribution? Is
it because it has become common knowledge that the Congress High Command cannot
deliver the votes anymore. It is sitting on a precarious and weakened perch,
hoping massive welfarism and letting all and sundry make hay while the sun
shines will see it through.
Congress certainly believes so, and considers other, equally
corrupt parties, are more comfortable with its methods. And there are some
powerful foreign powers, including America, who would like that very much. A
weak, corrupt, malleable, insecure India can be used very well. Many major
powers are not looking forward to both China and India becoming strong and difficult
to manage. China is tough enough to tackle. Russia too is not for turning. A
weak India can well suit the global power play.
(1,101 words)
March 4th,
2014
Gautam Mukherjee
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