The Hindu Business Line : The unfolding Koda scam

When the mega corruption charges against Koda and his accomplices are proved, and they are prosecuted, it will be a new beginning. Most Indians are greatly sceptical about the successful prosecution of tainted politicians, says RASHEEDA BHAGAT.

The former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Madhu Koda…Have we become immune to the corruption of politicians?

From a grey and gloomy Monday morning in Chennai, where the North-East monsoon strengthened by the low pressure area near Kanyakumari, has been battering the city and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, a scan of political news and current events appears even gloomier.

While our 24-hour TV channels and almost the entire print media were more obsessed with the crisis in the Karanataka BJP and the issue of the fatwa by the Deobandhis against the singing of vande mataram by Muslims, and the RSS chief’s volley on the next BJP president, the most depressing news pertains to the alleged Rs 4,000-crore hawala scam of former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Madhu Koda.

Perhaps we have become immune to the corruption of our politicians or else why would, through Sunday, our 24-hour TV channels agonise more over the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr B. S. Yeddyurappa, breaking down in interviews as he admitted that he had ditched people close to him for “selfish interest”, or bring to life once again the dead issue of vande mataram, rather than do some serious introspection on the massive fraud perpetrated by Koda?

The former Jharkhand Chief Minister, of course, bought some time for himself by complaining of… what else, the good old stomach ache, with which all parents are familiar. How many times all of us have wondered if the mysterious stomach ache that our child has suddenly developed in the morning is genuine or related to that blessed cricket match? The decision to either keep them at home or pack them off to school is a dicey one, and you rarely win this one!

Similarly, Koda managed to escape questioning by the ED and IT sleuths for a few days by complaining of stomach pain and high BP. This kind of monumental stress, of course, is not good for anybody’s BP, and can make the strongest of stomachs rumble or run. But he was finally discharged on Sunday and right into the arms of taxmen who descended in droves at his plush Ranchi residence.

To begin with, they have picked files related to the allotment of mining rights in the mineral-rich State from 2004 when he was Jharkhand’s Minister for Mines. And there are pointers that the net will also close in around his associates and accomplices in this mega fraud. In normal circumstances, any rags-to-riches story enthuses an entire generation of youngsters not born into wealthy families. It makes them hope and dream; ‘if he could do it so can I’.

But Koda’s story, which begins from his being an ordinary tribal worker in a mine, and goes on to his acquiring a business empire that is said to stretch from Africa to Dubai to our own shores in Mumbai; from mines in Liberia and other places to a hotel in Thailand and bullion business in Mumbai, is certainly not the best of material for school text books. Last week, when the Sensex tanked by 500 points, rumours were flying thick and fast about the astronomical sums of Mr Koda’s money in the equity market.

Political journey

In 2006, he became Jharkhand’s chief minister, quite a journey for a farmer’s son; his father wanted him to become a policeman, but even as a youngster he had his eye on politics. Even though he has spent most of his career in the BJP, which he joined in 1994, it was support from the Congress that took him to the CM’s chair as an Independent in 2006. So we have both of India’s national parties to thank for the Koda saga. He was a minister in Jharkhand’s first government in 2000, when the State was carved out of Bihar and had Babulal Marandi as its CM, and in the Arjun Munda governments from 2003-2005. He bagged the lucrative mines and minerals portfolio, and along with it, the power to grant mining licences. Denied a ticket by the BJP in the 2005 elections, he turned rebel, contested as an Independent candidate and won.

Displaying political deftness, he supported the BJP to form the government, retained his mines and minerals portfolio and apparently continued amassing wealth. In 2006, he moved in for the kill; along with a few other Independents, he withdrew support to the BJP government and after its fall, got the Congress’, Lalu’s RJD and Shibu Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha support to become the chief minister. Both the Enforcement Directorate and IT officials are confident of nabbing him and his associates, says a Tehelka report that quotes additional IT Commissioner, Mr A. K. Srivatsava: “We have clinching evidence against him and his hawala trading.”

When that happens, and the mega corruption charges against Mr Koda and his accomplices — there are enough pointers from initial investigation that some of the scam beneficiaries are sitting in high offices in Delhi — whether bureaucrats or politicians, are proved, and they are prosecuted, it will be a new beginning. Most Indians, who have seen many a powerful fish slither out of the net of investigation for corruption, are greatly sceptical about the successful prosecution of tainted politicians. But somehow the raid on the Telecom Ministry’s headquarters in Delhi, the first of its kind, over the Spectrum allocation scam, raises itsy-bitsy hope that the Mr Clean in the PM’s chair is also developing some muscles.

This scam, involving a tribal leader, proves yet again that corruption is beyond caste, creed or social class.

Positive signal from Congress

Another positive signal that has come from the ruling dispensation, particularly Congress, pertains to refusal to fish in the murky waters of Karnataka politics, where Mr Yeddyurappa has just managed a fresh lease of life. The all powerful Reddy brothers who had revolted against his leadership, and who are a great example of political dexterity in that they are with the BJP in Karnataka but said to be close to the Congress leadership in Andhra Pradesh, particularly the powerful YSR family, could have easily helped the Congress to put an end to the first BJP rule in South India.

They claimed the support of nearly 60 MLAs and their defection to the Congress could have ushered in a Congress government in Karnataka after a long hiatus. But this murky development, had it happened, would have betrayed the Karnataka verdict clearly in favour of the BJP.

But the Congress High Command’s decision not to fish in the muddled waters of the BJP crisis may not have been entirely due to a principled stand. It already faces a headache in Andhra where the Jagan Mohan Reddy faction continues to demand he be given his father’s gaddi. The Reddy brothers’ entry into the Congress fold, either as Congressmen or allies, was bound to strengthen Mr Jagan Reddy’s hands, and turn the Congress’ headache into a migraine.

A better way not to upset the Congress’ positive vibes with Andhra Pradesh’s voters is to allow an experienced Mr Rosiah to lead the government, while the younger Jagan is catapulted into national politics.

Coming to the other two news-making headlines of the last week, as an Indian Muslim I would be proud to sing the vande mataram any day and will not give the right to anybody, least of all the clergy, to tell me what I can sing or cannot. My only regret is I don’t know the song beyond a couple of lines. Hence, along with another early morning fitness freak at our club, I had to face the embarrassment of admitting so, when both of us were suddenly summoned from our treadmills on Independence Day to sing the national song as the tricolour was unfurled. Anyway, it felt great to do so.

Let’s now come to the RSS chief, Mr Mohan Bhagwat’s clean chit to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi. He doesn’t think that like the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who had apologised for the Sikh massacre following Indira Gandhi’s assassination, Mr Modi needs to apologise for Gujarat’s communal holocaust in 2002. He has done nothing wrong, said Mr Bhagwat, and credited him for the “astonishing speed” with which he controlled the mass murder.

Well, it’s good to have a hearty laugh on grey and gloomy days.

(Response may be sent to rasheeda@thehindu.co.in and blfeedback@thehindu.co.in)

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