The Cycle

What does Indian public react to what is currently happening in India? As an outsider, as in someone living ‘safely’ away from the chaos, I couldn’t believe the brazenness with which the present government is conducting itself. Day after day, scam after scam, one incredulous lies after another, this government that boasted itself headed by the most honest prime minister is crumbling onto itself without a shame or guilt. Well, there was an error in the previous statement: how can somebody be ‘most’ honest? Are there shades in honesty? You are either honest or you are not. And let’s be very clear about one thing: The only Prime Minster who can claim the title ‘honesty’ is Jawaharlal Nehru. No one, just no one, I don’t think even Vajpayee (with PMK and DMK at the helm) can come closer.

Talking about the worst one, so far I thought it was a tie between Deve Gowda and VP Singh with VP Singh having clear edge over the sleeping beastie. And then, I never thought I’ll write this, of all the people, Manmohan Singh beats VP Singh hands down. From his inept handling of internal security, terrorism to Maoism, horrendous deterioration of Kashmir, downright incompetent ministers such as Alagiri to outright criminals such as Shibu Soren, With Nira Radia proving his absolute powerlessness emphatically to scam after scam tainting armed forces, CWG destabilising India’s image as the IT super power (‘India is in a shambles,’ my Irish boss commented after the CWG fiasco), record breaking 2G Spectrum, he has proved not only corrupt and incompetent, selfish and unpatriotic. The difference: VP Singh quit (by arresting Advani) and there isn’t any sign of this Singh quitting. And I will be mighty surprised if he did.

Will anybody get convicted in 2G? Will Raja be made a scapegoat, as the developments indicate? I’m sure he’ll happily agree to become one, but will the tediously long and agonisingly slow arm of the law reach the powers that be? Will those who claim to be ‘leaders’ but in reality behave no different from local mafia gangs be brought to books and exposed for what they actually are?

India underwent a great and the most admired struggle for its independence. The man who led the movement often features at the top of world’s greatest leaders. The man who headed the first government of independent India was a person of impeccable integrity, intelligence, compassion and vision. A true patriot. The people who stood by him were tall, great leaders of international standards.

That cycle had apparently ended a while ago. It’s the time of crooks, thieves and swindlers. Of small people. The cycle should change.