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Time to check the canker of corruption

HK. DUA’s front-page editorial, “The stink of corruption” (April 29) aptly speaks about the web of corruption in the Indian polity without any check. Indeed, the number of kleptomaniacs is increasing day by day. After Independence, all the political parties, the media, the intelligentsia and humanistic organisations were supposed to work for a New India. No doubt, to some extent, the desired results were achieved. Feudalism was abolished. The process of decentralisation of power is in progress. But the system has not been achieving success in controlling the rapacious tendencies of those who are expected to work for the people.

The editorial quotes the wrong-doers belonging to all the wings of the government. But what is the remedy? How to refine the mindset of those who hoodwink and plunder the people by misusing their positions?

All the political parties should stem the rot and ensure inner-party democracy to evolve dedicated leadership at various levels. The media, the intelligentsia and others must help awaken the masses against the evils and the evildoers. But all these measures will be futile if the socio-economic inequalities are not tackled.

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

II

Why are our cities clogged? Why do road accidents occur so frequently? Why are there not many beds in the government hospitals? Any why do we face power shortage every year? The answer: rampant corruption.

Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram is collecting taxes in many ways. Has he ever visited any government hospital to find the real state of affairs there? Where are his taxes going?

Yes, investments are being made in the name of public interest, but the common man feels so insecure in the country that the government is not simply bothered about him. There is no accountability at all.

If corruption can be tackled firmly and effectively, we will find answers to most questions and we will also grow peacefully.

PARAMJEET SINGH, Mohali

III

Who will bell the cat? Politicians to bureaucracy, it reminds one of the popular Urdu saying, Is hammam me sab nange implying that all are corrupt here. Corruption is more a corporation for cooperation, a clout to corner the booty, its epicentre being the icons in business, politics and bureaucracy where there is tremendous scope and opportunity to make money.

There could be no better example of political corruption than this — the manner in which Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was shown the door. He deserved a second term in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan for his unimpeachable integrity and wisdom.

B.M. SINGH, Brockville (Canada)

IV

The biggest worry is that the common man is becoming more and more indifferent with each passing day, leaving the field clear for the corrupt and crafty to scoff at the system whose guiding principle is Satyameva Jayate. This disease has made inroads into the judiciary and the defence establishment despite good intentions at senior levels. Reports of corruption in our armed forces send chill down my spine.

The inspiring editorials and articles in the print media remind the citizens of their duty to halt this downward march of the nation. In my moments of anguish, I tell my fellow colleagues that by indulging in corruption or by tolerating it, we are cutting the very tree on which we are sitting. The system needs to be cleaned and expeditiously.

S .C. CHABBA, Ropar

V

Paradoxically, we are living in an age in which those in power take pride in being corrupt. The corrupt use the rules to deny the needy their legitimate dues. For example, some corrupt officials have denied compensation to genuine riot victims of 1984. The corrupt can never think of social progress and development. Their main concern is to make and hoard money for several future generations. In the process, they make parasites out of their future generations.

Living strictly within means leads to honesty, which is an alien idea to the corrupt. Justice delayed is justice denied. We see almost every high profile corruption case bogged down in legal tangles. Such delays erode public confidence in the system.

Lessons about honesty must be taught in the academies that train our bureaucracy and our politicians should get compulsory education in the virtues of honesty.

Lately, the media in India is playing a highly positive role. There seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

HARJAP SINGH AUJLA, New Jersey (USA)