The President Takes Over Read online

The President Takes Over

  Cover art: Sarita Sharma

  Copyright Author Bhaskar Sarkar 2012

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to Anna Hazare and his Team and the supporters

  of India Against Corruption Movement

  And Baba Ram Dev and his Movement to Bring Back Black Money

  Contents

  Preface

  Prologue

  The Plan is Made

  Emergency is Declared

  The First day

  The Initial Tussles

  New Rules for Elections

  Crimes against the State

  Some other Ordinances

  Law against Economic Offenses

  Judicial Reforms

  Making Government Departments Accountable

  Mauling the Mafia

  Some Unpopular Measures

  Dealing with Illegal Immigrants

  Barbaric Punishments for Barbaric Crimes

  Interrogation of Economic Offenders

  Law is Enforced

  The Raid Raj

  Search for Black Money

  Strike against Strikers

  The president Pardons

  Economic Agenda

  Things fall in Place

  End of the Emergency

  Epilogue

  Preface

  A time has come when any intelligent and patriotic citizen has a right to be alarmed at the state of affairs in India. As of September 8, 2012, it is my personal opinion that our political system as reached a nadir. The political ethos of today must be tormenting the souls of the freedom fighters who gave their lives to see an independent India, a vibrant, progressive, strong India. Our educated youth, who are the primary stake holders in India's future, must also be wondering about their future.

  We hear the slogan “Mera Bharat Mahan” or “My India is Great." BJP also coined the “India Shining” slogan. I fail to see what is great or shining about India. We have been independent since 1947 or about 65 years. Let us look at some facts about our achievements:

  We are told that we are the fifth largest economy in the world. What we are not told is that our per capita GDP (PPP) is only $2563 per year which is at 115th place out of 195 countries. In comparison, China has a per capita GDP of $5325, Pakistan $2594, Sri Lanka $4265 and Egypt $5495.

  Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparative index for measuring the state of development in a country. It combines factors like life expectancy, literacy, education and standard of living. India stands at 133rd place amongst 195 countries with a score of 0.609 as per the list published in 2008 based on data of 2006. In comparison China is at 90th place with a score of 0.762, Sri Lanka at 104th with 0.742, Iran at 84th place with 0.777, Egypt at 116th place with 0.716 and Congo at 130th place with 0.619.

  Our infant mortality rate is 55 per 1000 live births. In comparison the rate is 23 for China, 11 for Sri Lanka and 53 in Nepal. The world average is 48.8 per 1000.

  Our literacy rate is 65.2% and places us at 159th out of 195 countries. The rate is 93% for China, 90.8% in Sri Lanka and 71% in Egypt.

  As per UNDP list India has 28.5% people below the poverty line. In comparison, China has 4.6%, Egypt has 16.7%, Malaysia has 15.5% and Sri Lanka 25%.

  India is in the top 20 most corrupt countries of the world. Recently two software giants of India, Satyam Computers and Wipro have been banned by World Bank from working for them for 8 and 4 years respectively for following corrupt practices. Three other Indian companies have also been barred for the same reason in 2007. Massive financial scams involving trillions of Rupees in allocation of coal mines and spectrum have surfaced. In an unprecedented move, the US daily, Washington Post, published a sharply critical article on the Indian political leadership, the Congress Party and India itself. About the present Prime Minister, Mr. Manhohan Singh, it wrote, "India's silent prime minister becomes a tragic figure...... a dithering, ineffectual bureaucrat presiding over a deeply corrupt government."

  Is there anything in the above figure to be proud of? India became independent in 1947, China in 1950. India had been unscathed by Second World War. China had been devastated by Japanese occupation from 1935 to 1945 and 38 years of civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists. Yet China is far ahead of us in every sphere. Why is it so? The answer is simple. China has had more effective governance than what we had. The Chinese leaders were more nationalist than ours. Our political leaders from Pundit Nehru to Sonia Gandhi have never been able to put the interest of the nation above that of self, dynasty or the party.

  As of date there are about 40 political parties who contest Lok Sabha (parliamentary) polls. In the last election in 2009, the Congress won 182 seats and the BJP 138. Thus between themselves they won 320 seats out of 545. The other 38 parties and independents won 225 seats. This led to coalitions of convenience and marriages of strange bedfellows with the sole objective of sharing the power and perks of office. And when the share is denied or egos are hurt, support is withdrawn. This leads to intense horse trading and pandering to sectarian interests rather than national interest. It is unlikely that the election results of 2014 are going to be any different.

  Many political parties are controlled by dynasties. The Nehru-Gandhi family rules in the Congress, the Badals rule the Shiromani Akali Dal, the Chauthalas rule the Haryana Vikas Party, the Thakres rule Shiv Sena, Devegowdas rule JD (U), Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family rule the Samajwadi Party and so on. The BJP and the communists are perhaps the only parties who are not a dictatorship of an individual or a family.

  Then there is vote bank politics. Congress and CPM encouraged immigration of Muslims from Bangladesh since 1971 to increase their Muslim vote banks. They try to hold the vote banks with pro Muslim policies. Most political parties keep trying to increase their share of Muslim vote. The vote bank politics also encourages divisions based on religion and caste. The politics of reservation is a part of this trend. The constitution provided for reservations for 50 years. That has been extended. Constitution provides that Christians and Muslims cannot be given reservation as they have no caste. Congress and some state governments keep declaring reservations for them. The Supreme Court declared that the creamy layer should not be eligible for reservations. Since that was eliminating the children of most politicians, IAS and IPS officers, the creamy layer starts at an income of Rs 4,50,000 ($ 90000) per annum, which makes most of these categories eligible to reservation. The entire political system is based on dividing rather than uniting the country.

  The Governments stand paralyzed by internal contradictions and conflicts of sectarian interests. The law and order in most state is so bad that ordinary people, particularly women, are unsafe. Looting the Government treasuries, misappropriation and destruction of public property continues unabated. Governments at center and states do not bother to implement court orders for years. There is no accountability at any level. All Government servants including those employed on essential services like oil sector, transport and banking go on strike and hold the country to ransom. Agitators block trains, burn government properties and beat up police personnel. The Government just refuses to act. It is indeed a sad state to be in the 65th year of independence.

  The Parliament has become a farce. The only issue on which our parliamentarians show unanimity is when it comes to increase their own emoluments and perks. The parliament sittings are reducing every year. There is hardly any debate. The members behave in the most undignified manner. The ruling party is unable to pass bills and to conduct any legislative business.

  It is not that people do not know what is wrong. Civil society leaders like Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev have been holding fasts and agitations. Hundreds of thousands of their s
upporters, members of "India Against Corruption", have held protests in almost all cities of India. Millions of words have been written and spoken in the media about corruption in high places, about the nexus between the politicians and the criminals, about dividing the country on caste and religious lines in the search of votes that would allow a party to rule the country and enjoy the perks of office. Television channels show advertisements asking people not to vote for criminals and other unsuitable candidates. The right things cannot be done, harsh measures cannot be taken because it may cost votes or annoy coalition partners who are indispensable. The possibility of economic slavery under the developed nations and their multinationals looms large on the horizon.

  Can anything be done about it? Can the politicians be expected to forgo their individual and party interests and take measures that will be beneficial to the country and its masses? Or are we destined to endure the rule of self seekers in perpetuity and slowly become a banana republic where the rich and the privileged are in total control and the rest of us become slaves or bonded labor?

  Some of my friends feel that Army rule is the only answer. There is no doubt that the Defense Services and the Paramilitary Forces are the only institutions which have some discipline and are relatively free from political influence. But the leaders of these organizations are more used to obeying orders of their mentors than thinking about the problems of the country. And what is the guarantee that once in power they will not fall into corrupt ways of those whom they replace? After all, these organizations are not entirely free from nepotism and corruption. We have examples of the result of military rule in Pakistan.

  This book is about what can be done to tackle the situation. Perhaps it is just a dream. But unless we dream, we will have no goals, and no progress.

  The Author

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