Category Archives: Corruption

Corrupt Indian Politics

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There’s a Bollywood song titled “Love Ke Liye Sala Kuch Bhi Karega,” which translates to “Will do anything for love.” It seems that Indian politicians have taken this sentiment to heart, but instead of doing anything for love, they’re doing anything for votes. This became glaringly evident during a recent press conference with P. Chidambaram, the Home Minister of India. During the conference, journalist Jarnail Singh questioned Chidambaram about the Congress party’s decision to exonerate Jagdish Tytler, who was implicated in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Singh was dissatisfied with Chidambaram’s response and, in an act of protest, threw his shoe at the Home Minister. This incident was unprecedented in Indian politics and highlighted the tension surrounding Tytler’s candidacy. Chidambaram, though visibly shocked, managed to maintain composure and instructed his security to remove Singh from the hall, continuing the press conference as if nothing had happened. Singh was quickly taken to the police station but was released within hours without facing any formal charges. This leniency was likely due to the upcoming elections and the need to avoid alienating the Sikh community, which stood firmly with Singh.

The incident raises questions about the application of the law in India. Singh’s actions, though symbolic of his protest, were criminal, yet no legal action was taken against him. This leniency seems to be a calculated move by Congress to safeguard their electoral prospects, reflecting a troubling reality: political considerations often override legal and ethical standards. This situation underscores a larger issue in Indian politics, where the pursuit of votes can lead to the bending of rules and the overlooking of legal procedures. It’s a stark reminder that, in the quest for power, politicians may prioritize their electoral gains over the principles of justice and accountability.

In this context, the question arises: Is the Indian Constitution really stronger than the ruling political parties, or do the latter’s interests frequently overshadow the rule of law? The episode with Jarnail Singh reveals the extent to which politicians are willing to go, highlighting a troubling trend where votes may justify actions that would otherwise be considered criminal.

822-year-old-living person

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Elections are approaching, and the Election Commission of India is working diligently to issue voter ID cards to all eligible voters. This is a relatively new requirement in India, where having a voter ID card is now mandatory to vote. The government frequently announces that anyone without a voter ID card will be barred from voting. However, just days before the elections, the Election Commission often reports that individuals without voter IDs can still participate, due to their inability to reach everyone in time. Despite substantial expenditure on this project, the results have been far from successful.

Alarmingly, nearly 50% of the voter ID cards issued contain incorrect information or printing errors. For example, Amar Ujala, a prominent Hindi newspaper, reported today (08/04/09) that the Election Commission issued a voter ID card to someone named Ballu from Muradabad, with his age mistakenly recorded as 822 years old. Ballu, having received this erroneous card, faces a dilemma: with elections just around the corner, he is unlikely to have the time to rectify the mistake before voting. He will use the card as-is and vote as an 822-year-old. Similarly, voter ID cards were issued to individuals named Nanhi and Khurseed, inaccurately recorded as two years old.

They, too, will use their incorrect IDs to cast votes. Another significant error involved the issuance of 424 voter ID cards to one address, implying that there are 424 residents from the same family living at that address, which is clearly incorrect. When I received my first voter ID card, I found that my father’s name was printed incorrectly, and my address was wrong. I was advised to wait until a month before the next elections, which would be five years later, to address the issue. Despite being issued by the government, voter ID cards are often not accepted as valid proof of residence or identity by any institution, whether public or private, due to these persistent errors.

On March 24th, the Times of India reported a similar mistake where a voter ID card was issued to a twelve-year-old girl. It is concerning that while the Indian government struggles with basic tasks like issuing accurate voter ID cards, it plans to build nuclear power plants. If the government cannot manage something as fundamental as voter identification, it raises doubts about its capability to handle complex and critical projects like nuclear power. The frequent errors and inefficiencies in the voter ID system suggest that India may not yet be fully prepared to tackle such high-stakes projects, where there is little room for error and significant challenges in managing nuclear waste and safety.

Indian elections 2009

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The upcoming central government elections have created a stir in the political landscape. Benares, historically a significant city in India, has gained even more prominence this year due to the high-profile candidates from various parties contesting in the elections. The city has become a focal point of national political interest, with parties fiercely competing against one another, resorting to tactics such as bribery, religious targeting, and caste-based appeals, rather than focusing on the needs of the people and development.

Recently, several political leaders were caught illegally distributing money to voters to sway their support. This practice, while illegal under the Indian constitution, highlights the troubling state of our politics. The real issue is not just the legality of these actions but the nature of our politicians. Instead of working towards genuine governance, they seem to resort to bribery when elections approach. Prominent figures, who are already wealthy, continue to amass more wealth in a country with widespread poverty.

Today’s headline in Amar Ujala (5/03/09) reveals that many politicians’ assets have skyrocketed in the past five years. Despite the fact that over 77% of Indians live on less than Rs. 20 per day, the wealth of politicians has grown six to seven times, with some even seeing their assets increase tenfold. These figures raise concerns about the sources of their wealth and the transparency of their financial dealings. Politicians are required to declare their income when they file their candidacy, yet those with assets worth Rs. 5 crore in previous elections now report holdings of Rs. 50 crore. This raises questions about the extent of undisclosed wealth.

I had initially decided to vote for Mayawati due to her effective governance, which has generally seen lower crime rates and less exploitation compared to others. However, her decision to field Mukhtar Ansari as her candidate for the Varanasi seat has been disappointing. Ansari, a convicted criminal involved in inciting communal violence, was introduced to secure Muslim votes, undermining the integrity of her party. The competition in Varanasi this year features prominent names: Ajay Rai from the Samajwadi Party, Murli Manohar Joshi from the BJP, Rajesh Mishra from the Congress, and Mukhtar Ansari from the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Ajay Rai, a notorious criminal, and Rajesh Mishra, who was recently caught bribing voters, are among the candidates. Mishra, who previously claimed credit for declaring the Ganga as the national river, has done little for Benares since his election. The BJP’s introduction of Murli Manohar Joshi, a respected and non-criminal candidate, was seen as a strong move. However, Mayawati’s choice of Mukhtar Ansari aims to consolidate the Muslim vote, knowing that the Hindu vote will be split among Joshi, Mishra, and Rai. This strategy, which risks fostering further communal tensions, might lead to Ansari’s victory, posing a grave concern for Benares and the nation.

It is disheartening to see that our political system is plagued by corruption and self-interest. Instead of focusing on effective governance and development, politicians are more concerned with winning elections through any means necessary. This reflects poorly on the state of our democracy and governance.

Corruption in India

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A few days ago, I applied for my passport. I was supposed to fill out a form and submit it at the passport office in Varanasi. When I arrived at the office and presented all my documents, I realized that I had made some mistakes on the form. I thought it would be best to fill out a new form, so I asked the officer if he had a fresh one. To my surprise, he told me that the office did not provide new forms, which seemed absurd. The officer asked why I needed a new form, and I explained my situation. He then suggested a solution: he used whiteout to correct the mistakes and asked me to overwrite the errors.

I was relieved not to have to go out and purchase a new form, but I was puzzled by his willingness to help, as I did not expect such assistance from a government employee. I suspected that something was amiss. After I completed the corrected form, I handed it to a person at the office, but he told me to wait for the officer. I inquired if he was an official employee, and he revealed that the officer had hired him personally to assist with the paperwork. This raised my suspicions further. When the officer finally arrived, he stamped and signed my form but did not give me a receipt. Instead, he handed it to the other person and instructed me to speak with him for the next steps.

The man turned his face away and mumbled something I couldn’t hear. When I asked him to speak clearly, he eventually said that I needed to pay for the stamp and postage charges to send my application to the regional office in Lucknow. I questioned why the government did not cover these costs, and he simply replied, “No.” I knew that postage should not be so expensive and argued that Rs. 200 was excessive. He insisted that the fee covered bribes for all officials who would handle my application. Reluctantly, I negotiated and gave him Rs. 100, which he snatched eagerly. He assured me that he would forward my application by the evening.

It was disheartening to see how the officer had cleverly outsourced the bribery process to avoid direct involvement. The next step was to obtain a no-objection certificate from the local police station. The passport office sends the documents to the SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police), who then forwards them to the local police station. When I visited the police station to check if my application had arrived, I was told to return after two days. During my visit, I observed a man retrieving his car, which had been confiscated by the police two years earlier. He had received a release order from the court.

I knew that the police would demand a bribe to return the car, but I was curious about how they would solicit it. Despite my presence, the policeman loudly instructed the car owner to give something extra to the next officer to receive the car keys. The car owner reluctantly paid Rs. 500, but the policeman demanded more, eventually settling on Rs. 700. The next day, when I returned to the police station, the officer had my application. He reviewed my documents and asked for my father’s village address, even though I had never lived there. When I questioned this, he explained that people sometimes commit crimes in their villages. I realized he was likely trying to delay the process to extract a bribe.

I insisted on a faster process, and the officer mentioned he knew a way to expedite it. He took me to the head of the police station, who interviewed me and asked various questions, including who would pay for my trip to the US. After attesting my photo, the head of the station sent me back with the original officer. The officer then demanded a bribe, stating that I could pay whatever I wished. When I suggested Rs. 200, he dismissed it, saying it was insufficient. Eventually, he asked for Rs. 600, which I reluctantly paid, knowing that without this bribe, I might never receive my passport.

This entire experience left me disheartened. I wonder if there is any government service in India that can be obtained without paying bribes.

Per capita income India

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In India, one of the most common questions people ask is, “How much is your salary?” With India’s rapid development, the nature of such questions has evolved. About twenty years ago, the standard query after meeting someone was, “What do your parents do?” Today, however, the first question is often about one’s occupation, followed by inquiries about the parents’ professions. While family remains a crucial aspect of Indian society, it is clear that the focus has shifted towards individual careers.

However, discussing salary in India can be quite confusing. Despite having a fixed salary, many people are unsure of their actual earnings due to the prevalent practice of bribery. Here’s how these conversations typically go:

**Person A:** “What is your salary?”

**Person B:** “Ten thousand, but I make about twenty thousand including everything.”

In this context, “everything” often refers to bribes. It’s not uncommon for people to disclose only their official salary, with others then asking if this amount includes additional earnings from bribery. This practice is particularly prevalent among government employees, many of whom are involved in corrupt practices. It’s hard to imagine any government department where work can be done without offering a bribe.

Whether dealing with civil courts, the electricity department, the water board, municipal services, road transport offices, or the police, bribery is a common requirement. For instance, if someone wants a court case to be scheduled at their convenience, a bribe to the clerks can make it happen. If one wishes to reduce their electricity bill, paying a fraction of the bill as a bribe can lower the amount due. Even obtaining a fake driving license can be accomplished by bribing officials, bypassing any testing requirements.

This stark contrast with Western practices is striking. In Western countries, when asked about salary, people are usually asked if the amount is before or after taxes. In India, the focus is on whether the amount is before or after bribes—a significant difference. Many people avoid paying income tax by hiding their earnings, deciding on their own how much tax to pay.

In addition, due to the scarcity of jobs, many people receive their salaries in cash rather than through bank accounts. This system allows employers to bypass official records, leading to widespread underpayment. Even well-known companies like Coca-Cola sometimes fail to pay their temporary employees the standard minimum wage. Improved record-keeping and computerized systems might help address some of these issues, but it’s uncertain whether such measures would be foolproof against new forms of evasion.

Security and Sanitation or Satellite?

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On October 22, 2008, India launched Chandrayaan, a satellite designed to create a 3D atlas of the lunar surface and map the distribution of elements and minerals. Such space missions undoubtedly require substantial funding. However, just a month after the satellite’s launch, India faced one of its most devastating terrorist attacks. Nearly 200 people lost their lives, and over 350 were injured. In the aftermath of the attack, several critical deficiencies became apparent. The fire department lacked the necessary equipment, such as high-reaching ladders and specialized clothing.

Firefighters were equipped with only basic cotton uniforms, and many policemen were killed because they lacked bulletproof vests. I saw a video of a policeman confronting terrorists armed with advanced weaponry while he had only an outdated rifle. These shortcomings highlight a troubling pattern: the government has often neglected to allocate funds for essential safety and emergency services. Similarly, during the Bihar floods earlier this year, thousands of kilograms of grains and food packets rotted because of a severe shortage of helicopters.

With only two helicopters available to cover the entire state, people were dying from hunger and thirst despite the availability of food. This crisis again underscores the government’s failure to prioritize and invest in crucial infrastructure. Sanitation is another pressing issue in India. Public toilets are scarce, leading people to urinate on the streets. The lack of dustbins results in widespread littering, and one sweeper is expected to clean a neighborhood with thousands of residents. Untreated sewage is frequently discharged directly into rivers, and garbage often ends up in these water bodies due to inadequate education and waste management systems.

These problems persist because sanitation and public health infrastructure have not been given the necessary attention. While space exploration is impressive and can drive scientific progress, it should not overshadow fundamental needs such as sanitation, security, and education. Many people in India lack basic knowledge about space missions, with more than 30% unable to write the word “moon” and over 50% not knowing what a satellite is. The majority of the population may not understand the specifics of projects like Chandrayaan or their potential impact.

I believe the focus should be on improving essential services and infrastructure first. It might be more effective to collaborate with wealthy countries for funding space projects or even consider selling these projects to allocate resources where they are most urgently needed. Addressing critical issues such as poor roads, inadequate schools, and insufficient public transport should be a priority. By focusing on these foundational needs, we could significantly enhance the quality of life for many Indians.

Corruption in India

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It seems like “pending” has become a ubiquitous term here, and perhaps we use it more than anywhere else in the world. We have the highest number of legal cases pending in our courts, and people often spend their entire lives pursuing cases with no resolution. Many now prefer to settle disputes privately rather than dealing with the police or courts. When dealing with the police, bribery is almost inevitable. If you go to court, you’re faced with both bribery and lengthy delays before any judgment is reached. Sometimes, even judges are bribed, which compromises the fairness of their decisions.

I experienced this firsthand. Several years ago, I filed a case against a computer shop where I had bought a computer. I had been charged Rs. 43,000 for a computer worth Rs. 23,000. I demanded either a refund or the return of the computer. The shopkeeper agreed to take the computer back and issued me two post-dated bank cheques. However, when I tried to cash them, the bank informed me that there were insufficient funds. Despite repeated attempts and promises from the shopkeeper, I never received my money.

After this, I decided to take legal action. It took over seven years and substantial personal time and lawyer fees before the judgment was finally delivered—in favor of the shopkeeper, because he had bribed the judge. Despite having clear evidence of my case, including a stamped paper agreement and a receipt, justice was not served. I also applied for a tour guide license two years ago, but have yet to receive it. The process has been stalled in various courts. Initially, it took nearly a year for the government to process the application and conduct the exam.

Later, existing guides filed lawsuits to block new entrants into the field. Although I passed the exam, the government has only issued temporary licenses, which are not satisfactory. It seems unlikely that I will receive a permanent license within the next year. I applied for another tour guide license from the state government about two and a half years ago, and the situation is similar. The government has been sued by established guides, and the case remains unresolved. I have almost forgotten about it, as there has been no progress or hearing regarding this case. The Rs. 500 application fee has not been refunded, and it appears the exam may never be conducted.

Additionally, I applied for a registration for a guest house a year and a half ago but have yet to receive it. I am told every few weeks that they are still surveying and will issue the license soon. On one occasion, they even told me to reapply because they lost my paperwork. While the application process was not costly, it was time-consuming. I am currently hosting guests without a license, merely informing the local intelligence unit. Having an official license would provide peace of mind.

Brain drain in India

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The title of this post is “Upside Down” because it reflects how quality is often disregarded while mediocrity is upheld by both our people and our government. First, I want to talk about my brother, who is an Italian interpreter working for a major travel agency in India. Based in Delhi, he has been interpreting and escorting Italian tourists and researchers for the past two years. Though he doesn’t have an official tour guide license, he possesses extensive knowledge and experience. Many Italian travel agencies recommend him for their groups.

He started with a small group of just two people and has since progressed to leading groups of up to sixty. Despite his success, he must hire a government-authorized tour guide in each city he visits with his clients, as non-licensed individuals are not allowed to work independently. These guides are supposed to be passive, merely providing protection. However, many government-authorized guides resent him because he handles large groups, while they are stuck with smaller ones. Last week, at Jama Masjid in Delhi, licensed guides stopped him at the entrance.

They demanded to see his license, which he didn’t have, even though he was accompanied by a licensed guide. When asked if this guide spoke Italian, the answer was no, as he was an English-speaking guide. Despite the fact that all licensed guides hold the same credentials and are not required to speak specific languages, the government guides insisted on an Italian-speaking guide for my brother’s group, seemingly to obstruct him. At the same time, another group from my brother’s agency arrived with an Italian-speaking guide, but he was unable to work due to the same restrictions.

This pattern repeated in Rajasthan, where he faced similar issues and had to find an Italian-speaking government-authorized guide. Frustrated, my brother has decided to stop working in this field for now. He plans to continue with a few prearranged groups but is considering leaving the profession entirely. He is now transitioning to operations, a field he has no prior experience in. He feels compelled to learn something new, as government guides may continue to obstruct his work in the future. Although I’m confident in his ability to find another job due to his intelligence, I am concerned about the state of the tourism industry.

It’s disheartening to see a knowledgeable and experienced professional sidelined while outdated and less competent individuals are given support. This situation is truly “Upside Down.” Another story involves a relative of mine who is twenty-four years old and has always aspired to a life of crime rather than education. Despite being arrested multiple times, his father, who works at Sampurnanand Sanskrit university in Varanasi, managed to secure 10th and 12th grade certificates for him through bribery. He also obtained a graduation degree for his son from his own university, all without the son ever attending school.

The father then enrolled him in a B.Ed. course at a university in Gujarat, again through bribery, bypassing the admission tests. The son continues his criminal activities while his academic record remains intact. The father believes he can secure a government teaching job for his son through further bribery. Last year, I saw a newspaper advertisement for a peon position at the Benares municipality. The job required only an 8th-grade certificate and knowledge of bicycle riding. However, many candidates with Master’s and Ph.D. degrees applied for the position, illustrating the scarcity of jobs for highly educated individuals. Ultimately, the municipality hired these highly educated candidates as peons.

These overqualified individuals will now ride bicycles and monitor illegal construction sites, despite their extensive education. Their qualifications have not translated into the jobs they expected, and I suspect they will resort to bribery to supplement their meager salaries. Thus, a man who never attended school will become a teacher, while those with advanced degrees end up in lowly positions. It’s ironic to think about what the unqualified relative might teach—perhaps lessons in corruption or violence—while highly educated individuals are relegated to menial tasks. This situation epitomizes the concept of being “Upside Down.”

Corrupt Policing in India

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I witnessed something truly bizarre recently, which might be considered quite unusual even for an Indian. While I was sitting in an auto rickshaw, the driver was pulled over by a policeman who then sat next to me. Typically, police officers don’t pay for transportation, whether it’s an auto, bus, or train. After a few minutes of driving, another individual tried to stop our auto, but the driver refused. He explained that this person was also an auto rickshaw driver and was looking for a free ride. The other driver was furious and began shouting loudly.

We encountered this irate driver again near the railway station. He had arrived ahead of us, parked his auto, and was waiting for us. This time, our driver stopped, and the angry driver approached, grabbing the policeman by the collar and hurling abuses at him. I, along with the others in the auto, was shocked to see an auto rickshaw driver berating a policeman so publicly. The second driver claimed that the policeman had tried to ride in his auto without paying, and when he refused due to his auto being full, the policeman had slapped him.

It seemed the policeman had come to our auto after this incident. The driver continued to yell at the policeman, demanding to know why he was slapped, while the policeman merely replied that he would deal with him later and threatened to arrest him. The driver then accused the policeman of routinely sitting in his auto without paying. He boldly said, “Do I give you Rs. 10 every time I drive to the railway station to get abused?” He revealed that police officers would charge him Rs. 10 each time he drove to the railway station, a practice that he had endured for a long time. The policeman, caught off guard by this revelation, fell silent.

The driver’s response was impressive. Another rickshaw driver shared that police officers have set rates for different routes, with drivers in the downtown area paying Rs. 60. Trucks and tractors are banned from entering the city center after 8 a.m., but they frequently do so by paying bribes to the police, who stop them at every intersection but only for show. As I watched the altercation unfold, I was quite entertained by the driver’s defiance. However, to my surprise, a few other bystanders started siding with the policeman.

Despite widespread knowledge of police corruption and harassment, these people began supporting the officer. The policeman seemed emboldened by their support and became more assertive. The crowd, now favoring the policeman, urged the driver to move and let the policeman go. Eventually, the auto rickshaw driver relented, and the policeman, now with the support of a crowd of over fifty people, was let go. As the station approached, the policeman got out of the auto without paying the fare, just as he had done before.

It was striking to witness such shameless behavior. The driver will likely face repercussions for his actions, but his bold response to the policeman was remarkable. It’s a stark reminder of the kind of bravery we need to tackle the most dangerous kind of corruption in India—often embodied by those in positions of authority like the police.

Flood in Bihar 2008

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The situation in Bihar is now dire and completely out of control. Over 4 million people have been affected by the floods, and the Indian government seems to be doing nothing to address the crisis. I have witnessed scenes of immense suffering: people fighting for food, crying, and the carcasses of animals scattered around. The scale of the devastation is unlike anything I have ever seen. The affected people are without food, shelter, and medicine, and there is no adequate relief effort in sight. Experts estimate that it will take at least 4 to 5 months for the situation to stabilize, followed by a likely surge in diseases and poverty.

In one relief camp, I saw a chaotic scene where more than 50 people fought over a single packet of roasted garbanzo. In the end, no one managed to get any of it; the packet burst open, and the garbanzo scattered on the ground. People walked over it and some tried to collect as much as they could, hoping it might help them survive. When government officials brought a packet of food, hundreds were already waiting, making the relief effort seem inadequate and poorly managed. One particularly heartbreaking sight was a family who had to drown their cow in the floodwaters because they could no longer afford to feed it.

In a deeply emotional and traditional ceremony, they decorated the cow, performed a puja, and then released it into the floodwaters where it quickly drowned. The family wept and voiced their anger at the government for their plight. Meanwhile, the Indian government is investing heavily in projects like the Delhi Metro, preparing for the Commonwealth Games 2010, and constructing new stadiums and roads. While these are significant investments, they seem misplaced when compared to the urgent need to address the crisis in Bihar. It feels as though the government is prioritizing showy projects over the immediate need to provide resources and save lives.

The funds would be better spent on providing relief and support to the millions suffering in Bihar rather than on extravagant projects that do not address the pressing issues faced by those in need.