Open Letter to Concerned Politicians:

Vineeta Gupta

Public Service Commissions are constitutional bodies and any probe into their working is possibly only by an order of the Supreme Court. Such an order is desired by all well-meaning people who will like to see corruption targeted across the country. -- Editor

Bhatinda, 6 June 2002

Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
President AICC, New Delhi

Capt. Amrinder Singh
Chief Minister, Punjab, Chandigarh

Dear Madam/Sir,

It is for the first time in history of independent India that a state government has taken such drastic and strong action against corrupt politicians and highly placed public servants on a large scale. The credit for this crusade goes to you as well as Capt. Amarinder Singh who is the first ever Chief Minister to initiate fight against corruption.

Even a child knows the magnitude of the cancer of corruption eating up our nation and suffers because of it. All politicians promise to address this problem before polls but conveniently forget it after getting elected. Today corruption is one of the most important causes of India's down fall and its political and socio-economic subjugation to outside forces, which is worse than under the colonial rule. Only Capt Amarinder Singh, out of all congress ruled state governments, has shown courage and sincerity towards fulfilling this promise.

Never before, was such an enormous impact created upon the people, as the amassing of unaccounted illegal wealth by politicians and bureaucrats, evident in the visual exposure of tons of currency notes accumulated by the PPSC Chairman in Punjab. The common person on the street appreciates and supports these measures taken by the Chief Minister. A corrupt element in the Congress is trying to defeat these efforts to curb corruption.

Akali Dal and BJP alliance gained massive majority on the sole poll promise of giving a clean and corruption free government. But they broke all previous records of lawlessness, corruption and moral degeneration among politicians and bureaucrats after wining the election, totally and shamelessly breaking their promises. Their rule further worsened the political and socio-economic situation in Punjab, plunging the state into total bankruptcy. Now when they are being exposed and facing punishment for their misdeeds, they are shouting hoarse, calling it a law and order problem.

Some suggestions to sustain and continue crusade against corruption:

There is an urgent need to continue this initiative by making it a movement which involves people at the grassroots and not to limit it as an administrative action only. [The Congress] Party should instruct its workers to hold meetings, marches and seminars in cooperation and coordination with honest, social, democratic and human rights organizations and individuals at every level from village to the state capital. Otherwise this attempt will fail in time and will prove counter productive. Active support and involvement of the masses is a must for its success.

People of Punjab have every day dealings with Revenue, Police and the department of Health and they find it impossible to get work done without giving bribes. These departments also need to be targeted for anti-corruption measures.

To curb corruption effectively from public life, it is most important that all wealth accumulated through illegal and unscrupulous means is confiscated and deposited in state exchequer. Whatever legal reforms and measures are needed must be taken at the earliest. All temporary harassment, judicial confinement and interrogation, are immediately forgotten once out of jail and illegally earned money is restored with negligible cuts in form of taxes etc.

Thanking You.

Vineeta Gupta
General Secretary
Insaaf International