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| Compromised Congress | | The ruling party takes a hard hit | |
THE CBI recently arrested
a nephew of Railway Min
ister Pawan Kumar Bansal for receiving a large sum of money allegedly as a bribe. The number of people who have been held has increased since, and among them is the person who allegedly gave the money, a secretary-level officer who was seeking a better appointment in the Railway Board. The minister denies any knowledge of the quid pro quo for the bribe, or that he has business links with his relative who took the cash. The CBI is investigating the matter and the harsh glare of media spotlight is bringing out more skeletons from the cupboard of the minister’s family.
As of now, the Congress party has decided that the minister need not resign, a stand it also took when Law Minister Ashwani Kumar’s role came in for sharp criticism. He had reviewed and made some changes in the status report that the CBI was to submit to the Supreme Court on its investigation into the coal scam. While the party’s stand on the ministers who have done its image no favour is consistent, it is inexplicable. It compromises the party’s position and leaves the government led by a Prime Minister who had built for himself the reputation of Mr Clean, open to more attacks from the Opposition and the media, which may further damage its credibility. The party’s apparent strategy of waiting it out is not likely to work, given that the next few days will bring forth more information about the coal scam as well as the ongoing investigation into the bribery case. It is imperative to investigate the role corrupt practices play in the allocation of projects, promotions and appointments and to plug those loopholes.
The CBI’s role in the coal scam probe has exposed how a major national investigation agency has been hobbled at various levels by the government. It has redeemed its reputation somewhat by going after the big fish even as the Congress ship floundered in unfriendly waters, but it needs to show true spine by fearlessly and impartially investigating cases referred to it. As for the ministers involved, even if they ignore the moral implications of their continuing in office, the rising political cost may well make it untenable. |
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