"Softness on Corruption
The corruption eats into the vitals of the nation just as weevil do with the food grains or rats with the houses. The corruption among ruling class has always been a matter of concern. Chanakya, the famous political strategist of India around 300 BC, had stated "A corrupt person is like a fish. It can't be said when fish drank water."

The corruption in any country is bad, but in a poor country is worse. The famous Gandhian leader J P Narayan once said "Corruption in a poor country is a serious thing because it affects the poor man's bread." While crores of people are not able to manage their two square meals, few people making crores of illegal money, becomes a serious crime. JP Narayan's expression could be stretched a step further that "Lust for illegal gratification may even threaten the nation's security. Men like Ambhi, Jaychand and Meer Jafar have always existed in the land of India."

When a complaint of bribery against a high government official was brought before PM Jawaharlal Nehru, he was reluctant to use his big authority for such a petty offense. His remark "How big is his belly? Someday he would stop after his belly is filled," reveals his softness towards the issue of corruption. An intelligent corrupt person puts his money not in his belly, but in a Swiss Bank. Pt. Nehru's soft attitude, planted the sapling of corruption. The oath of secrecy by Ministers and Official Secrets Act provided climate for its growth. Mrs. Indira Gandhi's excuse that "Corruption is a world wide phenomenon" provided protection to the sapling. Today it has grown into a giant banyan tree. The banyan tree has several roots. You can not destroy it by destroying its one root. The ex-Justice Krishna Iyer once said "Any public official who steps out clean of the procedural meshes of Anti-corruption Law, is a hope of hundreds in hiding."

Mr. Nehru committed a great wrong by ignoring the case of corruption against high official as apetty offense. By this he planted a sapling which has grown into a banyan tree.

Mr. T N Seshan, a strong advocate of morality and a crusader against corruption, once (1995) warned the countrymen about perils of corruption. If the foreigners were allowed to operate in an atmosphere of corruption, we would never be able to compete with them. They would take over the reins completely."

Source: The World's Greatest Blunders
Author: Shital Kumar Jain

At present the entire nation is imbrued with plenty of corruption in almost every sphere. Civil activists like Anna Hazare and several others are trying hard to bring out a stronger lok pal bill in tandem with the government. All are seeking severe punishment for the corrupt by enforcing stringent laws. The architects of 'Jan Lok Pal Bill', as well as the common man of this country, are very hopeful that the new bill will certainly drive away the corruption from our society.

Do you think like Pt. Nehru, Dr. Manmohan Singh too is going soft on corruption?

Do you think the Jan Lok Pal Bill, which is getting ready, will be effective enough to wipe out corruption totally?

Do you think, any government, be it Congress, BJP or any other party, is equally sincere like the civil society and the common man are, in bringing out the stringent Jan Lok Pal Bill?

Go ahead and share your valuable opinion with others through this 'Discussion Forum'.

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