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Sunday, May 22, 2005
Corruption's ok, privatisation is not
On the subject of vendetta politics, and in particular on the enquiries against Arun Shourie, Vir Sanghvi writes:
Privatisation – indeed, globalisation itself – threatens the raison d'etre of both the left and the right in India. More on this some other time. But for now, do read Sanghvi's column on why "future reformers will now tread warily".
[M]y big worry is not about the inquiries themselves. If I am right about Arun Shourie’s integrity, then he will be vindicated by any investigation. In fact, he has said that he welcomes an inquiry.
My concern is with the subject of the inquiry. I don’t think it is any secret that large sums of money were made by various individuals during the NDA government.
Nearly everybody in Delhi’s political circles (and Page 3 circles, come to think of it) gossips about the deals and the newly enriched, publicity-loving bag-men who suddenly began flashing their money around. Most of these deals related to government purchases and, in some cases, to policy changes.
Why is it then, that when the first inquiry is launched, it relates not to the straight-forward cases of corruption which are easy to spot but to a transparent deal where there is no evidence at all that any money changed hands?
Could it be that many of those who are alleging corruption in privatisation are opposed less to corruption and more to privatisation?
Privatisation – indeed, globalisation itself – threatens the raison d'etre of both the left and the right in India. More on this some other time. But for now, do read Sanghvi's column on why "future reformers will now tread warily".
