Where are systemic changes ?

The Asian Age: Editorial: Friday, May 17, 2013.

Defence minister A.K. Antony has the stature to utter home truths. He was quoted as saying Wednesday that despite the government’s best efforts, “the general perception among people is that the government is not serious about eradicating corruption”.

This is dead right. Such a perception can’t be erased just by citing the UPA’s success in enacting the Right to Information Act, or various other measures. Nor can political salvation be gained merely by pointing to corrupt practices by other parties while in power.

The importance of the RTI as a transparency measure is beyond question. Indeed, this instrument is widely used by ordinary people to unearth corrupt practices. But what has earned the government a bad name is its lethargy in moving swiftly against unwholesome practices allegedly indulged in by people in high places.

In spite of warnings galore from several quarters, the wrongdoers in the 2010 Commonwealth Games scandal were judicially challenged after a long interval. The same can be said of the Adarsh housing scandal in Mumbai. Suresh Kalmadi and Ashok Chavan were eventually penalised. That is something. But the impression gained was that this was on account of public or judicial pressure. This was especially so in the case of the 2G spectrum scam.

Much has been said from top leaders in the government and the Congress about the need for radical systemic changes to fight corruption. But where is the proof of this? Strong action is needed on this front before public approval can be obtained.