Enemy Within-Corruption in governance

[member_27847]

The over-riding theme in today's India is that anybody government hires (any public servant including scientists in government run labs) immediately starts treating his/her salary as an entitlement. This is simply NOT OK.

People should be paid only for work. It does not matter if you work for public sector or private sector.

This is a very strong reason for a) reducing the size of the government; b) Stopping the practice of permanent employment, and hire on contract basis.

GOI has roundly failed in every field. Whatever is touched by GOI turns worthless.

The situation is so bad that a change in government at the center will do little. This requires very strong and far reaching measures.

[member_27847]

FACT: Most casual laborers die before reaching age of 50.

Has anybody thought of millions of people who build your houses, factories and roads?

A typical laborer starts at the age of 13-14 and dies before reaching age of 50.

Any serious ailment typically means death, as loss of income means no ability to purchase food. No access to medical care either (how far a poor person go?).

This is the condition of full 30% of India's workforce, which comprises of manual labour of various kinds - construction, farm etc.

FACT - Another 30% of India's households are barely surviving.

The small shopkeepers, rediwalas, small farmers, low wage service class etc. comprise another 30% of the population living hand to mouth.

FACT - Roughly 60% of India's population is mal-nourished and has poor physical fitness (unsuitable for army service).

When I think about this, I remember the following - "Water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink". India can face a serious manpower challenge if the war drags and consumes manpower.

[eklavya]

FACT - Roughly 60% of India's population is mal-nourished and has poor physical fitness (unsuitable for army service).

FACT - 100% of CPC-PLA leadership and cadre is criminal, stupid, corrupt, lazy, cowardly, generally disgusting, and unfit for any service, civilian or military.

[member_27847]

Eklavya:

These 60% are the real victims of corruption in India. It is these people who do not receive fruits of their labour.

China has housing and medical care for ALL citizens. There is a difference.

As regards leadership, I have not seen anything special in Indian political leaders that you see somehow.

[eklavya]

Garg: China has 1.3 billion people living in a jail run by the criminals in the CPC-PLA where the people have no human rights, no freedom, and no dignity. China is a giant cage full of sad people oppressed by the biggest and worst criminals on earth i.e. the CPC and the PLA.

[RoyG]

1.3 billion in jail? Sure, they've got corruption, human rights issues, etc. but at the end of the day the CPC-PLA have unified the country and made it a force to be reckoned with. They have surpassed us in almost every single field. Things are beginning to change slowly. They will go through hiccups here and there but they are one of the great civilizations of the world. They will pull through.

[eklavya]

CPC-PLA is a totally evil and illegitimate regime which systematically and thoroughly oppresses the people of China.

Nazi Germany too had great "accomplishments", and the criminal CPC-PLA is well on its way to exceeding the "accomplishments" of Nazi Germany, of which it is an identical political twin.

[brihaspati]

A slightly dated info on how India views the corrupted CPC :
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... hul-gandhi
Congress, CPC sign MoU to enhance party-to-party ties
Saibal Dasgupta, TNN Aug 7, 2008, 08.32pm IST

BEIJING: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday praised the "organising genius" of the Chinese people, who have made stupendous efforts to hold the Olympic Games in Beijing. Gandhi made the remarks after the Congress and the Communist Party of China signed a rare and crucial memorandum of understanding.

The MoU, which seeks to promote exchanges at various levels including youth organisations, was signed by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and Wang Jia Rui, Minister in the international department of the CPC in the presence of Sonia Gandhi and Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.

She also had a 30 minute meeting with Xi, regarded in Chinese political circles as the successor of the nation's president and CPC general secretary Hu Jintao. Rahul Gandhi was also present at this meeting, which was shown on the official CCTV channel.

Gandhi told Xi that the Chinese people had impressed her by their "organizing genius and creative ability to put together such a majestic show for which we congratulate you." She also complimented the Communist leadership for being able to stage the "historic event".

The MoU is expected to herald a new era of serious political exchanges between the CPC and a non-Communist party in India, which shares power in New Delhi. It is expected to enrich the scope of India-China relations, which is dominated by trade and government-level exchanges. Close political linkages are expected to play a role influencing the Chinese mind about India's nuclear case when the matter comes up shortly before the Nuclear Suppliers Group, where Beijing is an influential member.

The Gandhi family and other members of the delegation including Anand Sharma, minister of state for external affairs and sports minister M S Gill will be attending the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Xi praised the Indian government for taking "effective" measures to ensure that Indian leg of the Olympic torch relay was successful. "For that, we express our deep gratitude." He also conveyed to Sonia Gandhi the greetings and best wishes from president Hu Jintao.

The Congress has earlier signed a similar agreement with the African National Congress. But ANC's case is different because the Congress has historical ties with it.

Shall we then say its a mutual learning process? who learns from whom? Is it fair to call a party "corrupt" when the Indian National Congress praises it and wants to develop party-to-party ties with it?

[Rahul M]

x-post

holy ravioli, this is big.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/middl ... 9/1204792/

Middlemen's 'budget sheet' in Italy court refers to bureaucrats, 'AP', 'FAM' (Family)
Manu Pubby : New Delhi, Sun Dec 08 2013, 04:08 hrs Small Large Print
244G +3SU0Reddit0 1
Chopper dealThe document is in the hand of Swiss businessman Guido Haschke, who has confessed to having written it during a meeting with British middleman Christian Michel in 2008. PTI
Related

Varun in Milan talkies
The Avant Garde
VVIP chopper scam: Alleged middleman Guido Haschke to be questioned on Dec 13

Top Stories

BJP is number one, so why should we form govt, asks Aam Aadmi Party
BSE Sensex rises to record high of 21,377 on Assembly election results
Mizoram Assembly polls LIVE: After four losses, Cong wins big in Mizoram
With no party in majority, these are the three options before Delhi
Nitish rubbishes Modi factor for BJP's victory in Assembly polls

Italian prosecutors in the VVIP chopper deal have produced in court a "budget" drawn up by two key middlemen, which purportedly lists initials of Indian politicians and designations of bureaucrats, besides those of IAF officers, who it says would need to be "handled" for the deal to come through.

This is the first time that references to Indian officials other than IAF officers have figured in the investigations into the alleged corruption in the deal. No evidence has, however, surfaced yet to suggest payoffs were made to any of these individuals, either in accordance with this "budget" or otherwise.

The document is in the hand of Swiss businessman Guido Haschke, who has confessed to having written it during a meeting with British middleman Christian Michel in 2008. Prosecutors have presented it in court as a key piece of evidence to make the case that kickbacks of over 51 million euros were generated in the deal.

The note, which has been accessed by The Sunday Express, has three sections under which initials of politicians, designations of IAF personnel, and positions of bureaucrats respectively have been listed. Haschke has confessed in court that he drew up the list based on Michel's assessment of what would be needed for the "operation in India".

More evidence in the probe — the details of which were first reported by The Indian Express — is expected to be revealed in court in coming days.

Under the heading "POL" — Guido Haschke explained in court that this referred to Indian politicians — there are two references. One is to "AP" against which "3 million Euro" has been listed. The other is "FAM" — explained by Italian investigators in other documents as "Family" — against which "15/16 million Euro" has been listed. It is not clear if Haschke has explained in court what "AP" and "FAM" refer to.

Under the heading "BUR" — explained as "bureaucrats" in court by Haschke — six abbreviated designations have been listed. Five are key posts in the defence ministry — "DS", "JS AIR", "AFA", "DG Acquisition" and "another Gen". The sixth abbreviation in the list is "CVC". A total of "8.5 million Euro" has been "budgeted" under the "BUR" head.

Under the third heading "AF" (Air Force), four abbreviations have been mentioned. Two are "PDSR", and "DG"; the other two are not clear. Details are awaited on whether Haschke — who was arrested earlier this year, and whose confession to investigators last year produced several clinching clues — has revealed what the abbreviations mean.

During court proceedings on Friday, Ennio Amodio, defence lawyer for Giuseppe Orsi, the former Finmeccanica CEO who has been accused of generating bribes in the contract, contended that nothing written in the sheet was actually ever done, and it could not, therefore, be shown as proof of corruption.

In India, the anti-corruption probe into the deal is going slowly. The CBI has filed an FIR naming several Indian businessmen and former Air Chief S P Tyagi and his cousins. There is no indication yet that the CBI has probed the role, if any, of politicians and bureaucrats in fixing the deal.

Meanwhile, defence ministry officials said that the Italian court has granted permission to the Indian side to cross-question Haschke. Sources said that the cross-questioning would be done by Italian lawyers hired by India on December 13.

[ramana]

AP and FAM could be Ahmed Patel and Family. So ~ 3+15/16M(18-19M) Euros were allocated.

Interesting set of people under BUR. even CVC was in the baksheesh loop?
And bigger picture look at the allocaton ratios:
POL= ~20M Euros
BUR= ~8.5M Euros
AF= ~?

What was total contract?

How come super cops CBI was able to find only the sacrificers (Tyagis!) and misc Indian businessmen in the scam. What about the BUR and POL figures? Or were these charges a sign of throwing some meat to the howling masses?

[Rahul M]

ramana ji, plz note that other than AP and fam other haven't been confirmed as bribe-takers. some surely did but till we know who those are better to reserve comment. for all we know the memo said 'bribe X, because JS Air won't accept it. and if we bribe Y CVC would come to know'.

[ramana]

True. Lets see. Maybe CBI will develop some spine.

[harbans]

Why Kejriwal is the epitome of the very System he wants to Change

Anna Hazare movement: Why it attracts the Left

[pankajs]

dna ‏@dna 5m

Show us coal blocks allocation guidelines, #SupremeCourt tells government http://dnai.in/c28E
-------------------------->>
dna ‏@dna 17m

Coal scam: Supreme Court questions functioning of screening committee http://dnai.in/c28m
-------------------------->>
Seems SC is not going to let the GOI off so easy even when GOI promised to de-allocate blocks without clearance. The whole purpose of accepting "some thing went wrong" and cancellation of a chunk of allocated block was to placate the SC and stop further scrutiny and adverse comments.

[Gyan]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/i ... 538695.ece

CBI has registered two cases of cheating for alleged import and supply of low quality coal from Indonesia to National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and NTPC-SAIL Power Corporation Ltd (NSPCL) resulting in losses of Rs. 116.07 crore.

[Gyan]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 555438.cms

DRI unearths Rs 29,000 cr coal import scam

MUMBAI: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has unearthed a scam involving companies inflating the value of coal imports from Indonesia for their power plants thus siphoning money abroad.

Initial estimates by the agency pegged the overvaluation at Rs 29,000 crore in the period 2011-2014. DRI has raided over 80 shipping companies, intermediaries and laboratories across the country including, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Kerala in search of documents that show the real value of the imports. Almost all laboratories testing coal in India have been searched by the DRI to obtain the lab reports for verification of the calorific value of the imported coal.

[Gyan]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 597656.cms

CAG sniffs anomaly in R-Infra toll collection

NEW DELHIL The Comptroller and Auditor General has indicted Reliance Infrastructure Ltd of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group for collecting Rs 662 crore as toll on two projects of 6-laning of highways and allegedly investing Rs 303 crore out of this in its own mutual funds even before commencement of work.

[Gyan]

Hyundai ‘hid’ info: Delhi Metro mega contract under scanner -

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... LiHBa.dpuf

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has come under fire from the government for giving a Rs 4,000-crore contract for supply of coaches to South Korean major Hyundai Rotem without doing due diligence required for such a high-value tender. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... brs3u.dpuf

[pankajs]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ind ... 808873.cms

Coal scam: JSPL connived with Coal Ministry officials for excess mining, CBI alleges

NEW DELHI: The Coal Ministry officials had "connived" with the JSPL, headed by former Congress MP Naveen Jindal, allowing it to "illegally" mine nearly three times more coal than permitted, claims a CBI probe into coal block allocation scam.

The agency, which has incorporated these details in the FIR in the case, has alleged that the Ministry officials in connivance with the company not only overlooked the excess mining but also regularised it.

...
In the FIR, which has now been accessed, the agency has alleged that according to data available "on record" while the approved coal production during 1998-99 to 2002-03 was 1.35 MT, the actual coal production by the Company was 5.9 MT which is an excess of 4.55 MT (nearly 300 per cent above the sanctioned extraction) of coal mined "irregularly".

[Shanmukh]

The best article I have seen on the humongous corruption in TASMAC. Please take a good look at how fortunes of companies are made & broken by the TN governments through TASMAC.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... s?from=mdr

[pankajs]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 832197.cms

17 fresh FIRs filed in coal scam under money laundering law

NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered 17 fresh criminal cases against firms from various parts of the country in connection with coal blocks allocation scam. This is in addition to the 16 cases that the agency has already registered in connection with the scam under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

"The agency has filed 17 new FIRs in the coal blocks allocation matter. These cases, filed under the PMLA, are against firms based in several states including Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha," an ED official said.

Sources said the agency will now issue summons to the executives and record their statements even as it plans to attach some assets of these firms under money laundering laws.

[pankajs]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 869441.cms
CBI handed over probe into trust run by Salman Khurshid and his wife: Minister

"The probe into alleged discrepancies in holding camps for handicapped persons by the trust has been handed over to CBI. The officers of districts have said in Economic Offence Wing (EOW) probe that their signatures were forged," the Minister for social justice and empowerment told reporters here yesterday.

"Legal action will be taken against those found guilty," he added.

It was alleged that the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust run by Khurshid and his wife Louise allegedly forged signatures to receive government grants for welfare of the disabled.

[Melwyn]

BJPs facade of fighting corruption is quickly wearing out.

Haryana IAS officer Khemka gets another transfer.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 775167.cms

CHANDIGARH: It seems there is no let up for senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka from transfers, as on Wednesday he was once again transferred to an inconsequential posting by the BJP government in Haryana.

This is Khemka's 45th transfer in 24 years.

Khemka, as per the latest orders of the Haryana government, has been posted as secretary, archaeology and museums department and director general, archaeology and museums.
He was appointed as transport commissioner and secretary, transport department, last year after Manohar Lal Khattar assumed office as chief minister of the first BJP government in Haryana.

At that time, Khemka, who had blown the lid off from the controversial multi-million-rupee land deals of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, was touted to get an important assignment. However, he was posted in the transport department.

[kmkraoind]

Government to add more teeth to anti-corruption law

Intentional enriching by public servants will also be construed as criminal misconduct and possession of disproportionate assets as proof of such illicit enrichment.
......
To contain gain of benefits from profits of corruption, the powers of attachment are proposed to be conferred upon the trial Court (Special Judge) instead of the District Court.

The amendments also propose to ensure speedy trial by providing a trial completion within two years for corruption cases.