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| Real test for Omar to unmask 'mantris', ensure clean cabinet, admn | | CORRUPTION TURBULENCE | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, July 19: Even as Omar Abdullah has managed to get new lease of life for himself and his alliance government in the wake of trouble that took the entire Valley by storm , post crisis period is proving to be no less daunting and challenging for the Chief Minister. In less than a week's time when the Valley is yet to 'convalesce' fully to normal situation, the NC led coalition government is rocked with another turbulence- the brazen allegations of rampant corruption and the tainted mantris having almost plundered the state.
Corruption is no new menace in the state nor is the phrase 'tainted ministers' something unknown in J&K state. Post 1989 , particularly after restoration of so called 'popular' governments in the state in the backdrop of militancy, both have become so common, rather a 'house hold' term in the matters of governance. Be it 1996 when Dr Farooq Abdullah took over the reins with NC in full majority or during the following phases of coalition era led first by PDP Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and later by Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad, corruption remained an inseparable agenda for most of the ministers, bringing disrepute to the successive political regimes.
Now, with Omar in the chair, neither his dynamism nor enthusiastic talk about transparency and neat business have helped recede this menace in the government. In fact things have been so maneuvered and manipulated by some ministers in his government that corruption can only be seen as having reached 'all time high' during this regime. This is no exaggeration nor rhetoric to cast aspersion on anyone. Now that his government has ordered probe into the rocking revelations of corrupt practices by some ministers, many skeletons are likely to roll down from the cupboard.
Not to go too far, corrupt ministers and corruption was found during the erstwhile regimes of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the arch rival of Abdullahs as also during Ghulam Nabi Azad tenure so much so that latter announced a war and announced a 'crusade' to wipe out this menace from the state which had apparently brought utter shame and disrepute in terms of top ranking in the entire nation. It is a different manner Azad utterly failed in this much hyped campaign for the manner he initiated the things almost boomeranged, with no support not to speak of any coordination from any quarter.
There were corrupt ministers, corrupt officials who operated brazenly yet remained unfazed and undeterred. Interestingly some of them were identified but not much harm could be done for one or the other reasons in this highly sensitive political climate of the state. However, one positive thing about such ministers during their course of functioning remained that they were seen keeping constant and close touch with the masses on ground and 'delivering' somehow in terms of functioning of their respective ministries. Veterans, as most of these mantris were, they knew how to eat the pie and get things going. In other words, corruption though an evil practice and a menacing menace did not affect the functioning of the government even though people themselves kept the watch and punished them during hustings.
Omar has not been so fortunate in this respect. Though personally a neat and honest politician who wants to change the picture of the state in terms of meaningful development, not many around him mean so. Be that in his own party or the alliance partner Congress, both veterans as well novices know the 'tricks of the trade' and have been indulging in such practices in a neat manner. Now the bad news is that Omar Abdullah has been 'blissfully unaware' of all this- as to who all and how corruption has been continuing smoothly and 'carried on' like any normal activity by 'key players' around him. He surely is not expected to be naïve on these matters. Unfortunate for the masses of the masses of the state as it is, these ministers kept making fortunes with little or no care about the people on ground. There has been complete disharmony and lack of coordination between the ministers of both the allies as well between the ministers and ground level workers of both the ruling parties. The hue and cry about misgovernance and malfunctioning is only expected from such a scenario.
With talk about cabinet reshuffle on anvil, it remains a challenge for him to effect the 'necessary' changes . It is his discretion to drop or not to drop some of the existing lot but the real test of Omar Abdhullah lies whether his government will be able to unmask those deep sunken in this menace and ensure no one dares siphon off the funds meant for masses of the state.
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