Comments on: Monkeys Running the Circus

By: karmayogi

karmayogi — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 16:14:19 +0000

Like someone else mentioned in their comment, there is no way one can stop nincompoops from getting into politics and trying to encourage corruption. The best way is to put in checks and balances, like the freedom of information act. Open up every damn database of government activities and setup NGOs that watch this info, scrutinize every tender. In fact we should start an open source revolution of information monitoring within India. That will keep every monkey, ostrich and swine that twirls around as a ‘Neta’.

By: Suhail Kazi

Suhail Kazi — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 17:52:46 +0000

The same things were said about Tehelka they and tried to bury them under a heap of paperwork of Boforsist proportions. It’s a sad comment on the way we conduct ourselves.

By: SloganMurugan

SloganMurugan — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 06:21:16 +0000

I’m glad that they didn’t trouble AajTak/Cobrapost the way they went behind Tehelka.

By: Acharya

Acharya — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 05:05:51 +0000

I was rendered ROTFL when I read this gem in your article:

Report of politicians taking bribes is as astonishingly novel as the news that bears do potty in the woods …

Although I am delighted by the expulsion of these corrupt MPs, I am a little uneasy as to how swiftly this expose has been dealt with and how well it has served the Congress.

If a two-bit hitherto-unknown media outfit’s work is given so much value, why isnt the government going by the word of the CBI against Laloo and the other numerous chargesheeters in the government? Surely they too can be expelled from Parliament?

When corruption is synonymous with power in our country, isn’t it strange that cobrapost targetted the opposition?

I have put down some questions regarding this episode in my blog at http://kshetrajna.blogspot.com. Please visit and comment! Thanks!

By: Sri Harsha

Sri Harsha — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 08:54:38 +0000

Yup Patel…it kinda puzzled me why there was only one MP from the Congress being caught. I mean when we think or talk of corruption in politics in India, the first thing that comes into one’s mind is the Congress party.

Hmmm…may be they were plain lucky this time around!

By: Parvati

Parvati — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 06:13:18 +0000

Flogging or even the death sentence for corruption will not stop it ever. It will be practised with more cleverness and more impenetrable secrecy. Though the frequency of practice would abate considerably. These punishments are effective deterrents and inhibitors.
As always the only permanent solution to these external ill-actions is a complete change of the person inside.
A human being should realize that there is a great satisfaction and joy in doing the right thing by themselves and by the country of whose parliament they are members, which far surpasses that satisfaction that more and more money taken as bribes, gives him.

By: Soumen Chakrabarti

Soumen Chakrabarti — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 06:11:19 +0000

Atanu, rage and indignation will serve no purpose. We need a million Kautilyas to bloom in this country. Imagine, what a challenge for MBA-types: turn around a moribund hellhole through clever social engineering and people-manipulation. Selling the proverbial soap is so lame in comparison.

By: Patel

Patel — Sat, 24 Dec 2005 23:13:48 +0000

The only reason why they were so quickly expelled was probably due to the fact that it was in the benefit of the congress led coalition. I wonder if the underrepresentation of the congress was common sense on the part of Cobrapost. Knowing that if all parties were equally implicated, the matter would have simply been brushed under the carpet.

All things remaining equal however, (by that I mean all parties being equally corrupt) I wish they would have targeted congress mps instead.

By: Sri Harsha

Sri Harsha — Sat, 24 Dec 2005 16:46:41 +0000

Right on my friend. Your anguish over it is shared by most Indians.

I think the Parliament y’sday did the rigth thing in expelling the MPs. It would be grt if they bar them from contesting again and initiate criminal procedings against them.