Congress Undemocratic Ideology - 4

[ramana]

Tribune on the Tata disclosure of bribe for airline opeartion permit....

No grease money, no work!

Corruption knows no upper limits



What Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata has said about the all-pervasive corruption may be sensational stuff but is nothing unusual for the common man. He faces it at every step, every day of his life. Mr Tata has revealed that 12 years ago, his domestic airlines project with Singapore Airlines as partner was shot down on flimsy grounds over a period of time which saw three Prime Ministers change. A particular individual thwarted the efforts and they had to finally abandon the project. Interestingly, a fellow industrialist advised him to pay the minister concerned Rs 15 crore if he wanted to get the project cleared, but Mr Tata did not do so. He is an exception; most others find it more pragmatic to succumb. Some of them who make it are rogues who get lucrative projects by greasing the palms. Worse is the fate of those who have to pay even if they are eminently suited to get these but the corrupt officials make them corrupt even for getting their due. The ultimate sufferer is the common man who pays the taxes and also elects the corrupt leaders, who act as “commission agents”.



Quite expectedly, the remarks of the highly respected entrepreneur-industrialist have raised a storm, with a former Civil Aviation Minister C.M. Ibrahim threatening to commit suicide unless Mr Tata names the minister. Unfortunately, it is not the question of the integrity of a person but of the entire system. The rust has affected the entire steel frame of the administration. Whenever such ugly stories come to light, the culprits demand proof, as if money is sought and given in front of TV cameras.

Too bad the ibrahim wont carry out his threat!