In Mayaraj
Posted : December 25, 2008 at 9:26 pm [IST]
I am shocked and stunned, and so must be many. An MLA of this state where we live is behind the murder of a PWD engineer. The amount demanded by the MLA was Rs 50 lakh as per media report. As per report, the MLA was collecting the money as a subscription to the birthday party of the chief minister who happens to have become famous for celebrating her birthday. She is one of the most powerful women of the country. She is the only living chief minister having her statue placed along with her mentor in one of the best laid memorial park of the capital city of the state.
She is the first in many ways. She has a declared asset of Rs 52 crore, all obtained in small amounts from her poor and deprived followers. She pays Rs 15 crore as advance tax that must be one of the highest amounts paid by individual in India, certainly the maximum among politicians. She loves to put on pink silk, and wear costly diamonds. She was a primary school teacher. What an upward push! She is credited with a pioneering experiment of social engineering through which she could have sweeping win in the assembly election. She is also in hurry to become the prime minister of India.
Do the PWD engineers make so much of money and are so rich? Do the engineers get the posting and projects with the understanding of sharing the money with the chief minister or her agent?
I happened to visit a friend in the evening where I met with a former speaker of the state. I heard that every shop and establishment contribute to the birthday fund. I had read similar report in the national daily newspaper but I had taken that to be journalistic imagination. Now I can very well understand why India is so low on corruption index. Can’t the people who created a human chain or participated in the candle lighting against the terrorist massacre in Mumbai again get united to fight against the menace of such politicians who are looting the nation?
I was very happy with the projects such as 8-lane Ganga Expressway and Yamuna Expressway. I was more than happy to see recently a full page advertisement in all national dailies of the Rs 800 crore development of Varanasi. But can one imagine my shock when the friend tells me the share of the project cost of the Expressways that will be going to the chief minister?
How long will these loots continue and can the country still keep on dreaming of becoming a world power?
Are the people listening? Can some suggest some practical way out?
Let me assure I am neither biased against any class or individual, nor pessimist, but I am certainly angry and feeling lost in firming up my opinion.
- Indra
Category: Indian politics |
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