Despite the hostile political atmosphere in 2008 Omar Abdullah took the reins of  power with a big bang slogan of eradicating the menace of corruption. Though people having experience of all previous dispensations had very little belief in this slogan yet there was some hope that being young he may do something unexpected to eradicate corruption.
In his speech on 15th August he boasted of his achievement in this respect; (i) Bringing RTI, Accountability Commission, and Public Services Guarantee Act. On first glimpse one would feel some dramatic change must have happened by these things but the hard reality is that corruption has grown like a third stage Cancer which spreads in a geometric progression.
Before assuming power Omar said it is shameful that our State is counted as second corrupt after Bihar, and I am sure we must have defeated Bihar by now. He is heading a Cabinet in which ministers and sitting elected representatives are openly and loudly blaming each other for unprecedented corruption. Tainted ministers continue to remain in power without any remorse rather proudly stand in the parades to receive the salutes from all sections of the society for their courage of being tainted and still in chair.
Let us have a look at the changes the above mentioned three achievements of Present dispensation have brought in. What achievements have been made by accountability Commission which is still lacking Chairman after the death of Late Justice Sethi and one of the members has been given the said position till Chairman is appointed and quorum becomes full. How many have been punished till date though high officials and ministers are in the dragnet. Now the wings are expected to be further clipped by snatching some suo moto powers very soon.
Look at the Right to Information Act. No less a person than Chief Information Commissioner himself is openly coming out in the press almost all every week or fortnight complaining about the non serious response of high officials. Has any official been dealt with for not complying the RTI.
Position is no more different with regard to Public Services Guarantee Act. There have been many Acts in the field prior to present dispensation to check the menace of corruption but the result has been nil due to lack of political will and application of the law in the real sense. Because of non serious attitude of the people at the helm of affairs any anticorruption measure becomes one more medium of corruption unless same is not uprooted from the top itself.
People are like patients who are interested in treatment of the disease not the research into it. Every soul is crying about the corruption yet the corrupt are fattening their coffers day by day. If some honest HOD suspends a corrupt subordinate he gets reinstated himself within a week from the top. Imagine a situation in which if a Minister himself asks his subordinates to give him monthly booty collected  from corrupt sources can we honestly believe that any change will be brought by such system to relieve the people from the agonizing situation. The settled principle seems to be let everyone loot as much as he can and be assured of no action because there is no one left having the cheek to take any action. Will Mr. Omar Abdullah, the Honorable Chief Minister have introspection into what kind of Govt. is he heading even if his intentions may not be doubted. How will his period be remembered in future. Sycophants are the worst undeclared enemies of a ruler who feed him to defeat him. Better for him to beware of such people and grasp the reality on ground. 

Author is a senior advocate. Feedback at babashir@gmail.com

Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST