Prof Ramanuja Davanathan
PM Modi arrived at Ladakh and proudly claimed that he visited twice the State within a short period which other PMs never did. While inaugurating the Hydro-electric project at Ladakh, Modi revealed two things which are worth to be heard. One, he said that he will tirelessly fight against corruption and for this he would not even hesitate to join hands with all those who fight against corruption. In fact, the earlier Governments have made various attempts to pull down corruption. The introduction of RTI was in this direction only. Long back vigilance cells have been established and anti-corruption wing of the police was also functioning to eradicate corruption in total. However, the attempts could not yield the expected results. Rather, the people were being harassed by own people of the society. The irony is that harassed and harasser belong to the same society. Corruption has become the sixth nature of the world in addition to Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. Corruption has spread all over the world and it is not an issue of India but it is the issue of the whole world. However, the percentage of corruption may differ from Nation to Nation. This ‘under the table’ practice has its own tradition rooted since hundreds of years. From the childhood the human being is being introduced to this phenomenon under a cover of reward or encouragement. This later on makes the child to adopt the same technique in his real life. Even this under cover reward makes him feel that he was not doing anything wrong but doing the right thing which the society or his family taught him in his childhood. The powerful laws are enforced against corruption, yet it prevails. The First Indian Committee on the Prevention of Corruption submitted its report in March 1964. The committee was constituted to investigate rise in ministerial corruption since independence. The findings of the committee were that India’s legislative framework was not equipped well to handle political corruption, and laid down a procedure for the complaints against members of Parliament. Further, it is stated that the complaints against MPs would be investigated by an independent committee before referring the case to the police. However, the main issue being initiating action against those corrupt politicians and it remained unaddressed. Later the Lokpal bill was framed and introduced six times being modified every time till 1998. Recently there was an initiative to introduce Lokpal bill but it could not be passed with necessarily required additions, and corrections. A movement also began in support of this bill country-wide. But every effort went in vain. The sixth nature exists without check. Now Modi talks about seriously on wiping out corruption at various levels. To realize this goal, he has to frame a concrete and powerful plan of action as well to introduce an appropriate and strong bill in the Parliament.
PM has also stated that the State is in dire need of three Ps i.e. Prakash, Paryavaran and Paryatan (Electricity, Environment and Tourism). In fact, as PM said, these three are the assets of Jammu and Kashmir. Yet, the development of these three sectors depends on the stability and peace of the State. Modi must ensure first the stability of Government and peaceful life for the people of the State. Unless this is assured, not a single P could be successful. There are issues that come in the way of peace and stability. The Kashmiri migrants’ issue, terrorism in the State, incessant war like situation along the borders, and Hindu-Muslim unity are the major issues that confront the State. Others are the developmental issues and providing minimum required facilities to the people besides reforming education for maintaining quality. Modi is well aware of the problems of the people as well the strength of the State. To protect the flora and fauna of the State, the Centre has to extend its full support in the form of funding and providing expertise in the direction of protecting the serene environment. Further, to augment the development in tourism sector, the centre has to provide world class expertise. Tourism could be developed in various kinds. Besides general tourism, and adventure tourism the State has to give serious thought Spiritual Tourism, Cultural Tourism and Heritage Tourism to attract all kinds of people of different age groups. Thus the three Ps could only be achieved or could be developed if and only if the State is made peaceful by curbing terrorism with iron-hand and checking the border restlessness. Let us hope that at least a PM has given a thought the development of the State instead of talking about the usual stereotype issues that haunt the State. If the words of the PM are converted into action in true spirit, then one could perceive the bright future of the State.
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