Opinion ‘Loot and scoot’

“There was no other time in our democratic history of the last six decades when so many ruling alliance leaders were cooling their heels in Tihar jail. There was no other government which had to sack so many ministers and chief ministers on corruption charges. There was no other time when so many skeletons of scams tumbled out of the ruling party cupboards as now.”

It adds,“To top it all,at no other time has an Indian prime minister looked so lost,inadequate,indifferent and unfazed as Manmohan Singh. And his party chief and the real person who wields power is so brazenly insensitive,secure and remote from public scrutiny.”

It claims that this situation has creation a situation in which the general perception is to lynch the entire political class: “People feel helpless and they have lost faith in the political class… Witness the unanimity of the political class to protect their perks and privileges.” The editorial blames the Congress for creating this disaffection for the political class.

Hope for better

The Panchjanya also has a special Independence Day issue titled “Suraaj ki aas” (hope for good governance). The editorial laments what it identifies as widespread corruption,unending scams,economic mismanagement,mishandling of national security and minority appeasement as some of the challenges facing India in its 64th year of independence. “True,the country has made some technological and economic development in these years,but it has to travel a long way in establishing itself as a self-reliant,self-confident,prosperous and strong nation,” it says. It claims that Gandhi’s dream of Ramrajya and “suraaj” has been shattered by the acts of his own followers and now it was up to the people of this country to take responsibility for ensuring good governance. “Corrupt,power-greedy politicians cannot give us good governance. This has been proved by the record of the last 64 years,” it says. Another article claims that the judiciary,media and an aware public are the new saviours of our democracy.

Hindu patrimony

An Organiser article draws attention to the large number of objects from the Indus valley civilisation in American and European museums and libraries,and says India should demand these back.

“Should the people of India,Greece,Egypt and Africa,and the Native Americans succeed in getting American and European museums and libraries to return all objects which constitute the tangible roots of ancient civilisations,and thousands of years of history pre-dating the cults of Jesus and Mohammed,then the Louvre,British Museum,Smithsonian,Vatican and the Kunsthistorisches Museum,to mention just five,would be emptied of all their prized possessions,” it says.

The writer claims to have seen objects inscribed with Saraswati-Indus script in the British Museum alone. “There are currently around 4,200 such inscribed objects of which over 2,500 are seals and sealings,” the article claims. “This is invaluable and priceless wealth,our history and heritage,objects which define national self-identity,which we must bring back. This is wealth which cannot be replicated,regenerated or renewed… India has to take the lead in this direction as only India can,because India’s Hindu civilisation is still alive and vibrant,” it concludes.