DR. S. AUSAF SAIED VASFI laments the fast eroding concern for character that makes not only individuals but also the nation strong
Is over a billion strong, plural, socialist and secular Bharat seriously attentive towards what makes a strong nation – character? Does individual, collective and corporate character figure in the order of national leadership’s priorities? We are afraid it does not as prominently as it should.
Before proceeding further, let us honestly ask ourselves: Have we any ideology, any model that may produce upright citizens? Have we values strong and effective enough to create a responsible society that may serve as beacon-light for others? Has Bharat icons save film actors? If not, why?
ALL IN PERIL
Our plurality and democratic governance are some of our prized possessions, our strength? But both are in peril at the hands of scoundrels. Let us be up and doing, before it is too late.
Our “people’s representatives” have, at least thrice in the recent past, disappointed the nation. First, we had the “cash for question” scandal. Then, we had the MPLAD scheme scam. Both caused a dent in the honour of Parliament. Now we are confronted by some of our parliamentarians’ alleged involvement in what they call human trafficking, which has, once again, tainted the image of the central legislature.
IAS & IPS Officers
Let us painfully recall the recent arrest of a few IAS officers in Orissa for receiving bribes in crores.
Add to it the arrest of three IPS officers in Gujarat, who had, in a fake encounter, killed one Sohrabuddin Sheikh in cold blood in November 2005. This could happen only at the intervention of the Supreme Court.
The three arrested men are Mr. D.G. Vanzara, IG (border range), Mr. Rajkumar Pandian, SP (intelligence wing) and Mr. M.N. Dinesh, SP. Alwar, Rajasthan. The trio had almost successfully tried to pass off the murder as an encounter. In another encounter, the only witness, Tularam Prajapati had been killed by the men-in-uniform. Sohrabuddin’s wife, Kausar Bi who was with him when arrested, was, it is said, burnt to death and buried in Vanzara’s hometown!
Before the Apex Court intervention, the State Chief Minister had transferred at least three upright police officers including Ms Geeta Johri, who in her interim report in December 2006 had the courage to tell the truth about the atrocities of the Anti Terrorist Squad. A senior Gujarat IPS officer closely monitoring this case says: “The Supreme Court has to be thanked for bringing back sanity to the Gujarat police. If the Court had not intervened, nothing would have been done. Also, the arrests today have been made because otherwise the case would have become murkier than ever. A CBI investigation would have exposed several more hidden skeletons from the Gujarat Government’ coffin in this case.”
Now the Central Government has complained that Gujarat administration did not disclose full details of its probe in the killing of Sohrab. Apex Court may now order a CBI inquiry into the case.
POPULAR ALIBI
In Gujarat, the most popular excuses of the state police for liquidating Muslim citizens have been: the killed person was a LeT terrorist, or an ISI agent or a link or was a Dawood associate, who had come to the State to kill Mr. Modi.
This much about our cream, the top class of bureaucracy. Now about some of our representatives in the national parliament: It was on April 18 that Mr. Babubhai Katara, a BJP Parliamentarian from Gujarat, was arrested at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after being caught trying to take a woman Paramjeet and a boy, Amarjeet with him to Canada by using the diplomatic passports issued in the names of his wife Sharadaben and son, Rajesh. Earlier on three occasions, the accused has used the same modus operandi.
Mr. Katara is a two term M.P. He is a member of the Parliamentary Committees on Science and Technology and on environment and forests. He has had long association with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and was President of Dharam Pracharak Vibhag. The number of passports recovered from his various residences is over 25.
RS.2,000 CRORE BUSINESS
The police believe it is just a tip of the iceberg. According to the local Intelligence sources, human trafficking activity in Delhi alone is worth Rs.2,000 crore and a number of V.I.Ps are suspected to be involved in running the sleaze.
Mr. Katara’s brethren-in-profession are Mr. Ram Swaroop Koli, again a BJP Parliamentarian from Bayana in Rajasthan and Mr. Tahir Khan, a Bahujan Samaj Party MP from Sultanpur in UP, Mr. Mitrasen Yadav from Faizabad, Mr. Ashok Kumar Rawat from Misrikh and the Telengana Rashtra Samiti (TSR) chief and Karimnagar MP Mr. K. Chandrashekhar Rao. The Hyderabad based travel-agent, Sharif is said to be the kingpin. The historic city is now the hub of illegal migration.
CRIME INSTITUTIONALISED
It appears as if the hydra-headed crime, including trafficking of small girls and boys for abuse is getting institutionalised. The criminal misdeeds involve mega-personages, mega-dollars and mega-spin, which, in ultimate analysis, thwart possibilities of judicial punishment.
Elections to civic bodies, state and central legislatures are not going to alter the situation. But the powers-that-be, whatever their hue and colour, seem to have neither ideas nor tools to ameliorate the situation. We are afraid they happen to be neither serious nor zealous for change. The only stick they sometimes wield, and can wield, to bridle the offenders is law. But that has its too-obvious limits rather limitations. Law is no substitute for ideology or ideals or models.
And in today’s corporate world, these words are just irrelevant. What is relevant is money and pleasure, more money and more pleasure. But the proverbial Shangrillas of opulence are incapable of producing responsible, conscientious and accountable citizenry, a citizenry in which law is respected, morals are valued and human rights are protected. A citizenry in which money is not the sole criterion for greatness
Is anybody out there to listen?