The Government has taken several steps to address corruption in the country, increase transparency and accountability in Government institutions, and make it easier for citizens to access information about Government activities.In recent years, the Government has launched several initiatives to promote transparency and reduce corruption, including Digital India and Direct Money Transfer. The linkage of all payments with an Aadhaar card has reduced pilferage to some extent. These initiatives aim to digitise Government services, reduce the role of intermediaries, and increase financial inclusion, making it more difficult for corrupt officials to engage in bribery and other corrupt practices.
Action on foreign funding and bogus NGOs has been the high of the present Government. Banks were the epicentre, multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case involving jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, the Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor case, and earlier 2G, 3G, coal scams, Commonwealth Games scam, Augusta Westland scam, Tetra vehicle scam, coal scam, INX Media scam, Adarsh Housing scam in the name of Kargil war heroes, the list is endless. The list of political leaders involved is also long, and the majority are from opposition ranks: P Chidambaram, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and many more.
For ED and CBI it has not been easy to parse the data across the world, as there are many tax haven countries where shell companies mushroom and almost zero cooperation by the host countries. Even in India, investigating agencies face the least cooperation from the states ruled by the opposition.
PM Modi has rightly declared that the fight against corruption is long, but it will not be stopped midway. The data of the past and present show the different approaches adopted by the present regime: Rs 1.10 lakh crore in seizures under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act under the NDA, compared to a mere Rs 5000 crore under the UPA’s ten-year rule. The difference is too wide and self-explanatory. The number of cases registered is more than double that, and the number of arrests made is 15 times higher in the last nine years. The CBI alone has registered more than 5000 cases, and corrupt officials and politicians are running for shelter. Practically hundreds of corrupt officials have been forcibly retired and are now facing action as per the law.
Our own Jammu and Kashmir is no different. Jammu and Kashmir Bank Scandal with allegations that bank officials were allegedly granting loans worth crores of rupees to fake companies, relatives, and friends in violation of norms. Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association scam, and who can forget the Roshni scam, where thousands of kanals of state land have been just gifted away to influential persons. All three cases are under investigation and pending in High Court.
It is important to note that the CBI and the ED are two of the most important investigative agencies in India and play a crucial role in combating corruption and financial crimes. Despite the challenges they face, they have been successful in bringing many high-profile cases to trial and securing convictions in some cases. There is no shortcut to success as far as the fight against corruption is concerned.
The fight against corruption is on, and PM Modi has categorically stated that this crusade against corruption will continue. Corruption-free India can be a reality in the future.
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