LETTERS
` Accounts Committee) that the issue was discussed at
the PM’s level too. It has been two years (or more) since the Radia tapes have been with the government, but the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) did nothing till the SC’s intervention. A number of ministers feature in the Radia tapes. But no thorough investigation has yet been ordered (the recording was done ostensibly at the behest of the Income-Tax Department). Even the then national security advisor’s name appears in the Radia tapes. Former telecom minister A Raja disobeyed the PM as well as the GoM (Group of Ministers) and was still tolerated—all for the sake of political power, illusions of grandeur and privilege of office. The government is not serious about unearthing black money. Even the names of money launderers (which the Centre reportedly has in its possession) have not been disclosed. The US and Germany have managed to trace the list of their tax-evaders and moneylaunderers; why can’t India do the same? Even in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) scam, a number of worthies (former Union sports minister MS Gill, former urban development minister Jaipal Reddy and Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit) have not even been questioned. An investigation will reveal whether these three are involved in the CWG scandal, but it is evident that they were incompetent in checking the loot. Only junior officers are being penalised. In the matter of the selection of the (now expelled) central vigilance commissioner (CVC) PJ Thomas, the government—especially the PM and the home minister—kept mum. A man like Prithviraj Chavan is put at the helm of a state as important as Maharashtra. In fact, Kerala CM, VS Achuthanandan, termed as baseless the statement by Mr Chavan that the Kerala government had ‘suppressed the fact’ that the expelled CVC was involved in a vigilance case. Mr Achuthanandan was responding to a statement made by Mr Chavan in the Maharashtra State Assembly. The Maharashtra CM was the former Union minister of state for personnel and training. It has become very convenient to blame ‘systemic failure’ for the CVC imbroglio.
As far as the Adarsh scam is concerned, senior politicians Sushilkumar Shinde, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ashok Chavan are all allegedly involved—flouting all laws, regulations and norms. How can a 30+ storey building be constructed, when the sanction was only for eight storeys? Further, the structure was built on disputed land. Can such a tall building be constructed overnight? The authorities and the military establishment remained mute spectators. In fact, former Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh has also been pulled up by the Supreme Court. The SC has raised questions on how Mr Deshmukh was still in the Union Cabinet quoting his interference with the police from taking action against shielding a moneylender MLA Dilip Sananda. The then CM had issued a circular asking police stations not to keep records of phone calls by politicians. The Bombay High Court’s fine of Rs10,000 on the former CM was subsequently enhanced to Rs10 lakh after it was revealed that Mr Deshmukh’s office had called the police station asking the officer to go slow against the MLA—and the officer had noted it down in the station diary. Vishwanath Poddar, 82/3A, Ballygunge Place, Kolkata – 700 019, by email
SAVE THEIR SOULS I am a psychiatrist specialising in de-addiction. I found the story on Muktangan Rehabilitation Center (Moneylife, 21 April 2011) interesting as addiction to drugs is a social as well as a psychiatric problem. Surveys carried out over the past few years have thrown up facts which are alarming. Almost 40%-60% of young adults in the age-group of 18 to 35 years are addicted to some substance of abuse. How can we rid our society of this problem? A whole generation seems to be in its vice-like grip. Your story answers this question in a constructive and pragmatic way. No amount of sloganeering or political cacophony will be of any use. A partnership between mental health professionals, social welfare organisations and corporate resources is the key to overcoming this tricky problem just as the one initiated by Dr Anita and Dr Anil Awachat. Well-equipped drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres are woefully lacking in Punjab. ``
MONEYLIFE | 19 May 2011 | 6
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