While everyone has been animatedly supportingAnna Hazare's fight against corruption, people seem to have forgotten who the people are who actually led to this situation.
The peak of irony was when Anna was, allegedly, lodged in the same jail that housed the people who were responsible for two of the biggest scams in the country ever. How must the authorities have felt when they saw Raja and Kalmadi fill their plates while Anna was on a fast because of their misdeeds?
Corruption has become an unavoidable part of politics and every now and then, one or the other politician re-affirms this fact.
Here is our pick of the 10 most corrupt politicians of India.
Suresh Kalmadi
Suresh Kalmadi, almost single handedly caused a loss of hundreds of crores of rupees to the country. The Commonwealth Games, organized by Kalmadi was no less than a loot with numerous reports of the magnum opus event being soaked in corruption making headlines way before the Games had even started. Apparently, out of Rs. 70000 crores spent on the Games, only half of the amount was actually spent. Owing to his involvement in the scam, Kalmadi was charged with corruption and sent to Tihar jail.
A. Raja
A scam worth Rs. 176,000 crore had former Union Cabinet Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Andimuthu Raja at the centre. A. Raja as he is generally called, was the prime accused in the 2G spectrum scam, which was the largest that the country had seen in a long time. Following the shocking exposure, Raja was indicted and forced to resign. Presently, he is too has been lodged at the Tihar jail and is awaiting his trial.
Mayawati
Mayawati has always been criticized for ostentatious display of power in her state. She has allegedly used her status as chief minister to amass large amounts of personal wealth. She was charged with corruption when the Taj Heritage Corridor Case was uncovered. Mayawati's birthdays have always been media events, where she usually appears decked in diamond jewellery and also accepts public donations for which, she often comes under fire. Her assets are worth millions of dollars and in the year 2007-08, she had paid an income tax of Rs. 26 crores, which placed her amongst the top 20 taxpayers of the year.
Lalu Prasad Yadav
The fact that Lalu Prasad Yadav has been an accused in 63-odd cases serves for the fact that Lalu stands as one of the strongest competitor in the list. The biggest scam that rocked Lalu's political career was the fodder scam which involved the embezzlement of Rs. 950 crore approximately. The accusation of nepotism against him has come up time and again but hardly any action has been taken against him owing to his 'connections' in the government.
Madhu Koda
Former Jharkand Chief Minister, and only the third independent legislator to assume the office of chief minister in India, Madhu Koda was responsible for a scam worth over Rs. 4000 crore. The man exploited the state's natural resources by licensing illegal mining leases and stashing away the wealth amassed during the undertaking. Furthermore, the Maoists received a 30% share of the booty. Koda was arrested on charges of money laundering and is still in prison following the rejection of numerous bail applications.
Mulayam Singh Yadav
Mulayam Singh Yadav is also known as one of the most corrupt ministers in the country despite not being directly involved in any major scams. Apart from his name being involved in appointments of tainted officers and mishandling of his power as chief minister, Mulayam Singh had one major allegation levelled against him– accumulation of disproportionate assets. The case drew limelight on his sons and daughter-in-law as they too were holders of the assests that amounted to crores of rupees.
Karunanidhi
The corruptions charges against M. Karunanidhi are so many that he is often referred to as the king or emperor of corruption. He was accused of lending support to the LTTE and was indicted for abetting the LTTE in the interim report which oversaw the investigation into Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.
Karunanidhi reportedly institutionalized corruption in the South. He was a leading player in the cash for votes scams that are common in the southern region, as well as notorious foe extreme nepotism shown under his rule. Not so surprising, is the fact that the main accused in the 2G scam, A, Raja, considers him to be his mentor.
Sharad Pawar
Very few people can miss the cosy relationship that Sharad Pawar shares with power and money.Every now and then, Pawar draws flak for alleged investments made by him and his family in various illegal projects. He was named by Abdul Karim Telgi, during a narcoanalysis test, stating that it was Pawar's brainchild to print fake stamp papers across the country and mint money. He was also accused in a multi-crore scam involving wheat imports and institutions headed by him and his close associates were served notices by the Bombay High Court for showing favoritism to his family.
Jayalalithaa
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has a staggering 46 corruption cases against her. Amongst the various scams were the Rs. 70 million coal import scam, Tansi land deal case, case of disproportionate assets and colour TV case, amongst many others. A raid in her residence and business establishments led to the seizure of some 28 kg of jewellery (worth Rs 51 crore), 91 wrist-watches, 41 air-conditioners, 10,500 sarees, 750 pairs of footwears, etc. She along with her former cabinet colleagues and senior bureaucrats who worked with her are still facing investigation with regard to corruption.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy faces corruption charges
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief minister Oommen Chandy is facing the heat of corruption charge against him for a Rs. 256 crore pollution control project that resulted in loss to the government. Opposition Left Democratic Front has moved an adjournment motion in the Assembly.
The Left alleged that Chandy went out of his way to implement Rs. 256-crore pollution control project in state-run Travancore Titanium Products Ltd in 2005 that allegedly caused a loss of Rs. 62 crore to the exchequer.
The Opposition's main weapon: Three letters written by Mr Chandy as Chief Minister in 2005 to the head of the Supreme Court-appointed pollution monitoring panel.
The Left alleged that Chandy went out of his way to implement Rs. 256-crore pollution control project in state-run Travancore Titanium Products Ltd in 2005 that allegedly caused a loss of Rs. 62 crore to the exchequer.
The Opposition's main weapon: Three letters written by Mr Chandy as Chief Minister in 2005 to the head of the Supreme Court-appointed pollution monitoring panel.
Delhi CM slapped with Rs 3,000 fine by HC
Chief minister Sheila Dikshit was on Friday slapped with a fine of Rs 3,000 by the Delhi high court for failing to file a reply in a defamation suit filed by her against BJP leader Vijender Gupta.
Justice Kailash Gambhir imposed the fine as Dikshit’s counsel sought adjournment of the case
Justice Kailash Gambhir imposed the fine as Dikshit’s counsel sought adjournment of the case
saying they needed more time to file the reply to Gupta’s contention questioning the high court’s power to hear her defamation suit against him.
Giving last opportunity to Dikshit’s counsel, justice Kailash Gambhir posted the matter for March 15.
Gupta’s counsel Ajay Digpaul opposed Dikshi’s plea saying for the last four hearings, her counsel had only sought adjournment without filing the reply to Gupta’s plea challenging her defamation suit against him on the ground that it was “not maintainable” in the high court.
The chief minister has filed the suit against Gupta for allegedly erecting hoardings across the city accusing her government of corruption in determination of new power tariff and conniving with the private discoms.
Dikshit has demanded a token Re 1 as damages in her suit. She has alleged that the BJP under Gupta’s leadership erected hoardings in June 2010, which said her government had “openly looted thousands of crores of rupees”.
The suit says Gupta got hoardings put up, accusing Delhi Congress government of misrepresenting facts before the people of Delhi on power tariff.
The advertisements also claimed that the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) was going to recommend reduction in power tariff, but the “chief minister came in the way”.
Dikshit moved court after Gupta refused to tender a “public apology for the slander” as demanded by her. Gupta had maintained that he would reply in court and is represented by counsel Aman Lekhi.
As per the allegations, the hoardings were erected at Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, Shankar Road, Hari Nagar, Jhandewalan, Delhi Gate, Rani Jhansi Road, Najafgarh Road, Rajendra Nagar Road, New Rohtak Road, Filmistan and Subzi Mandi.
UPA govt is corrupt: Mamata Banerjee
"It is stable [but] of the corruption, by the corruption, for the corruption," said Banerjee in an interview to CNN IBN channel aired on Wednesday.
She called the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in retail as "FDIgate" likening it to another corrupt move of the UPA fuelled by money power.
She money power, muscle power and mafia power are the strengths of the UPA.
Mamata said she is self sufficient to contest the elections in West Bengal, when asked if the Congress decision in the state to walk out of her government would harm her.
She slammed the UPA on FDI decision.
"No one had consulted me on FDI," she said, rubbishing reports that there was an effort to consult her before the FDI in retail was pushed.
She said she rather had requested Sonia Gandhi to save the alliance but ruling out any support to the Congress on FDI.
On future support to Congress after elections, she said she cannot say it at the moment but "I am fed up with them."
"I cannot give my individual opinion. I have to consult my party," she told the channel on future alliance with Congress, not ruling it out completely.
But Banerjee slammed the Congress on the issues of corruption and anti-people decisions.
Mamata, the biggest in ally Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government, walked out of the ruling coalition on Sept 18 over the string of long-awaited economic reforms announced last week.
She said that since the government was not rolling back the moves on diesel, LPG and FDI, widely considered as critical to revive India’s economy but criticised by others as detrimental, TMC was withdrawing its support.
PM Singh, criticized for running a government of policy paralysis, announced the big bang reforms and so far has decided to stay on course with his policies.
She called the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in retail as "FDIgate" likening it to another corrupt move of the UPA fuelled by money power.
She money power, muscle power and mafia power are the strengths of the UPA.
Mamata said she is self sufficient to contest the elections in West Bengal, when asked if the Congress decision in the state to walk out of her government would harm her.
She slammed the UPA on FDI decision.
"No one had consulted me on FDI," she said, rubbishing reports that there was an effort to consult her before the FDI in retail was pushed.
She said she rather had requested Sonia Gandhi to save the alliance but ruling out any support to the Congress on FDI.
On future support to Congress after elections, she said she cannot say it at the moment but "I am fed up with them."
"I cannot give my individual opinion. I have to consult my party," she told the channel on future alliance with Congress, not ruling it out completely.
But Banerjee slammed the Congress on the issues of corruption and anti-people decisions.
Mamata, the biggest in ally Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government, walked out of the ruling coalition on Sept 18 over the string of long-awaited economic reforms announced last week.
She said that since the government was not rolling back the moves on diesel, LPG and FDI, widely considered as critical to revive India’s economy but criticised by others as detrimental, TMC was withdrawing its support.
PM Singh, criticized for running a government of policy paralysis, announced the big bang reforms and so far has decided to stay on course with his policies.
Arvind Kejriwal demands sacking of NCP minister Tatkare
Published: Wednesday, Sep 26, 2012, 20:56 IST | Updated: Wednesday, Sep 26, 2012, 20:57 IST
Place: Mumbai | Agency: PTI
Place: Mumbai | Agency: PTI
Appealing Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to accept the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday also demanded sacking of state Water Resource Minister Sunil Tatkare.
He also said that India Against Corruption would take to the streets if Vijay Pandhare, Chief Engineer in state irrigation department, who blew whistle on the alleged irrigation scam, was harassed.
"Chavan is going through a test at the moment. He is facing a lot of pressure. The question is will he succumb to pressure and save his government by not accepting Ajit Pawar's resignation, or will he accept the resignation and pass the test," Kejriwal said, addressing a press conference here.
"His (Pawar's) resignation should be accepted, even if the Chief Minister is facing pressure from (Congress) High Command (not to accept it).
"Even Tatkare should be asked to resign as his name has surfaced in the irrigation scam," said Kejriwal, the former Team Anna member. Both Pawar and Tatkare belong to NCP.
Kejriwal also said that resigning was not equivalent to undergoing a punishment. "They are exerting pressure by submitting resignations...they are blackmailing the people in the country. Resignation is not a punishment," he said.
Kejriwal alleged that both CBI and state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) were controlled by the government.
"Scams take place but nobody goes to jail. Instead they are granted bail. Even in this current scam of Rs 70,000 crore, who will investigate? Both CBI and ACB are in the hands of the government."
In a surprise move, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar resigned yesterday following media reports of his alleged involvement in a scam when he headed the irrigation ministry between 1999 and 2009.
Kejriwal said a special investigation team headed by retired Supreme Court/ High Court judge should probe the scam.
About Pandhare, the whistle-blower officer, he said, "Pandhare has done a good job for the country. He exposed this big scam. We are with him."
Pandhare had written to Governor K Sankaranarayanan and Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, drawing attention to the poor quality of irrigation projects, inflated budgets and irregularities in purchase of materials.
"India Against Corruption (IAC) members will take to the streets if Pandhare is harassed," said Kejriwal.
"Lokayukta in Maharashtra does not have much teeth," he said. "Does the Lokayukta have powers to probe criminal matters? It has no powers and resources. The Maharashtra Lokayukta is an independent sh---------
