This scam-o-lithic period we seem to live in has thrown up interesting points-to-ponder, which the ‘thinkers’ often assume to be postulates. Once thus assumed, they often build further theories and force them down our collective throats. We, the people, in search of solutions generally tend to gobble them up instead of throwing up on them.
One such theory is to term the Central Bureau of Investigation as Congress Bureau of Investigation and castigate that agency mercilessly. If that much-reviled agency ever decides to sue for slander, many writers, commentators, panellists and politicians would go pauper - they wouldn’t need to file Tax Returns any more
:-D
To my horror while watching NDTV 24x7 yesterday, the opposition spokesperson, a former head of CBI and another panellist apart from Dr. Swamy were tearing into the administration. Their whole thrust appeared to be chiefly on two fronts:
Here, there was the
Thus for ~13 years (out of 59 years or 22 % of time) the opposition parties have been in power and while they shout themselves hoarse now, did not suggest any remedies while they were themselves administering.
It is not as if scams did not take place during these regimes; to list a few -
Thus
it can be seen both pots and kettles are black and our hope is bleak.
:-/
As to the 2nd and more serious argument to remove the political supervision of an essentially policing agency, it is a seriously flawed assumption. That once removed of political oversight a policing agency will hold true - after all, we are not living in fairy land.
By very nature (of such agencies), it cannot have a collective leadership, a first among equals type of setup, like the Election Commission of India where there are 2 Election Commissioners along with one Chief Election Commissioner, who all have equal decision-making powers. An investigative, policing agency essentially has to be a one man show.
On that subject (one man shows) - ever hear of one Lavrentiy Beria? Or if you dismiss him as only possible in an authoritarian state, ever hear of J. Edgar Hoover?
So, mis amigos, before you finger with a going concern, ask yourself - Is this the guy you want?
Dirty Harry YouTube video removed by uploader (not me). (October 2012). Here is a snapshot of what it looked like.
One such theory is to term the Central Bureau of Investigation as Congress Bureau of Investigation and castigate that agency mercilessly. If that much-reviled agency ever decides to sue for slander, many writers, commentators, panellists and politicians would go pauper - they wouldn’t need to file Tax Returns any more
:-D
To my horror while watching NDTV 24x7 yesterday, the opposition spokesperson, a former head of CBI and another panellist apart from Dr. Swamy were tearing into the administration. Their whole thrust appeared to be chiefly on two fronts:
- The CBI has been used by the Congress party as a tool and investigations are commenced or paused/stopped at (party’s) will, that is, political intervention.
- The CBI hence should be removed from the oversight of the Government of the day and be put under an independent statutory authority, like the Election Commission of India.
Here, there was the
| Ruling formation (non-INC) | No. of Years | Lok Sabha |
| Janata Party | ~ 3 | 6th (1977-79) |
| Janata Dal /Samajwadi Janata Party | ~ 1.5 | 9th (1989-91) |
| United Front | ~ 1.5 | 11th (1996-97) |
| NDA | ~ 1 | 12th (1998-99) |
| NDA | 5 | 13th (1999-2004) |
Thus for ~13 years (out of 59 years or 22 % of time) the opposition parties have been in power and while they shout themselves hoarse now, did not suggest any remedies while they were themselves administering.
It is not as if scams did not take place during these regimes; to list a few -
| Name of Scam (during non-INC regimes) | Year | Amount (Rs. / $) |
| Cobbler scam | 1997 | 1000 Cr / 230 mn |
| Plantation scam | 1998 | 210 Cr / 47 mn |
| Barak Missile scandal | 2000 | NK |
| UTI scam | 2000 | 32 Cr / 8 mn |
| Stamp Paper scam (Telgi) | 2001 | 200 Cr / 45 mn |
| Home Trade scam | 2001 | 600 Cr / 140 mn |
| Ketan Parekh scam | 2001 | NK (est. ~200 Cr/45 mn) |
| Kargil Coffin scandal | 2002 | NK (est. ~1 Cr/225,000 |
Thus
it can be seen both pots and kettles are black and our hope is bleak.
:-/
As to the 2nd and more serious argument to remove the political supervision of an essentially policing agency, it is a seriously flawed assumption. That once removed of political oversight a policing agency will hold true - after all, we are not living in fairy land.
By very nature (of such agencies), it cannot have a collective leadership, a first among equals type of setup, like the Election Commission of India where there are 2 Election Commissioners along with one Chief Election Commissioner, who all have equal decision-making powers. An investigative, policing agency essentially has to be a one man show.
On that subject (one man shows) - ever hear of one Lavrentiy Beria? Or if you dismiss him as only possible in an authoritarian state, ever hear of J. Edgar Hoover?
So, mis amigos, before you finger with a going concern, ask yourself - Is this the guy you want?
Dirty Harry YouTube video removed by uploader (not me). (October 2012). Here is a snapshot of what it looked like.
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