Last month, Prime Minister Modi articulated the Indian dream in his
extempore address on Independence Day. He packaged a deceptively large
vision of the Indian future in penny-packets - a clean country with
toilets for all, especially women, a country free of violence, again,
especially against women, a manufacturing hub with a social safety net
for all and so on.
Though he did dwell on moral corruption, he had
little to say on monetary corruption, something which has plagued the
nation for a long time, and which roiled the politics of the country for
years leading to the UPA's defeat and Modi's spectacular election
victory. Somehow, with the passage of the Lokpal Bill, the issue seems
to have receded from public memory.
Corruption
Modi has,
coined the memorable slogan, "na khaunga, na khaney doonga" (loosely
translated to "I will not be corrupt nor permit corruption"). There is
little doubt he has tightened the governmental system and his ministers
are on tenterhooks all the time, a function of the fact that their boss
is not just first among equals, but their omniscient supremo. However,
corruption is so widespread, that without tackling it on an
institutionalised scale, it cannot be managed by a vigilant leader all
by himself. Though, it must be pointed out there is no doubt there will
be a positive trickle down impact of a government which is honest at the
top, just as it had worked the other way with the UPA.
The one
country that Modi can take lessons from is China. Both Modi and Xi are
seeking to consolidate a vision of a nation with middle-class values,
virtues and attainments though they articulate it in different ways. A
corruption free and efficient government which provides a level playing
field is the most desirable goal for middle-class folk.
Perhaps
Modi has wanted to avoid negativity in taking up corruption at this
stage. But he cannot be unaware of the fact that corrupt police,
administrators, judges and, above all, politicians, have made India the
dystopia of poverty, filth, violence, illiteracy and joblessness. Across
the country, at every level of government - chaprasis, policemen,
junior engineers, and IAS officers - function in a corrupt system in
symbiotic lock-step with our politicians. Beyond the venality of
officials exists the criminalised society of new India where mafias
operate freely-real estate, sand-mining, coal, timber, liquor, drugs,
even education, tent supplies and parking. These cannot be rooted out
through ordinary means because they have infiltrated the machinery of
the state - the police and the governance system.
The Lokpal
movement of Anna Hazare, seems to have lost its way. Modi, himself, has
been ambivalent about the Lokpal, believing, presumably, a revitalised
administration will make this institution redundant. If so, he is wrong.
At some point, he will have to take up the fight directly.
Learning
This
is the lesson we can learn from Xi Jinping. From the outset, Xi has
been involved in a struggle against corruption. In his first press
conference on the first day he took over as General Secretary of the
Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, Xi announced corruption was
ruining the CPC and the country. To fix this he got his aide Wang Qishan
to take the post of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection
(CCDI). Through its draconian authority over the 91 million party
members, the CCDI covers almost every aspect of the Chinese government
and administration.
Wang has launched a campaign to ensnare both
"flies" (smaller functionaries of government) as well as the "tigers"
(the highranking leaders). The CCDI and its associated Ministry of
Supervision has investigated 182,000 officials in 2013 alone, the
highest number in 30 years.
Values
As for the "tigers,"
since about a year ago 28 ministerial and provincial-level senior
leaders have been arrested, including four members (two full members and
two alternate members) of the newly formed 18th Central Committee. On
their cross-hairs now are a former Poliburo Standing Committee Member
Zhou Yonkang, the highest ranking official to ever face action, a former
Vice-Chairmen of the Central Military Commission Xu Caihou who was also
a Politburo member has been expelled by the party and is to be
court-martialed; another CMC Vice Chairman Guo Boxiong is under
investigation.
It would be easy to accuse Xi of using the
anti-corruption campaign to consolidate his authority in China. But in
taking on the top echelons of the party, he is taking a big risk. But,
clearly, the idea of a corruption free country is an intrinsic part of
his "dream" because it will make for a more resilient China. Just as, of
course, it would a corruption free India. Modi, too, has articulated an
dream of development and prosperity, but he needs to ensure that it is
not distorted by corruption.
W B Yeats once wrote, "In dreams
begins responsibilities." Hopefully, this is something that the leader
of China Xi Jinping, and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi
understand well. Both have packaged their plans and perspectives as
visions or dreams that spring from the positions of authority that they
occupy.
But both can be undone if somehow they are unable to deliver.
Mail Today September 4, 2014
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