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January 19, 2011

India waits for Wikileaks to name Swiss account holders

ALLEGATIONS THAT there are billions of dollars in black money stashed away in Swiss banks by Indians might be proved if one believes the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who has promised to disclose the names of 2000 account holders, who have Swiss bank accounts.

It is generally believed that a number of Indian industrialists, corrupt politicians and bureaucrats have deposited around 1500 billion dollars of ill gotten money in Swiss bank accounts. In fact information about some of these big names is known to the Indian government and in a recent move, the government was forced to reveal some of these names to the Supreme Court, although the government did so under the condition that the same should not be made be made public.

The reason being that this information was classified as it was given by countries like USA and Germany under a confidential clause. However, the moot question is, if the government of India knows the names of such wrongdoers, who have looted the country and still are doing so, then why there has been no action against them?

Don’t name the corrupt in public, but atleast take action on the basis of this information and stop this loot, the people are demanding. However, it seems that many in power and those close to them are happy with the way things are going on and this could be due to obvious reasons.

Now coming to the much anticipated revelations promised by Assange, the whole of the country is waiting to know if some Indian names will also be exposed by his website. Recently, the Nira Radia tapes also exposed the unholy nexus between politicians, corporates, Indian bureaucrats and even the media and this lead to the ouster of a union cabinet minister.

It is quite possible that Wikileaks expose could also cause a similar upheaval in Indian politics and hit some bigwigs. The common man in India burdened by rising prices, lack of opportunities and general apathy of government and administration is imploring the Wikileaks silently and in the heart of hearts to come out with names of such corrupt Indians.

However, they know that even if these names are revealed, it would be tough to get these corrupt people convicted as they are not only powerful and rich but could also hold the strings of law themselves.
The entire nation knows the fate of Bofors scandal, where the government and the CBI used all its resources to ensure that the case never came to conclusion and despite clear cut evidence of wrongdoing none of the corrupt could be brought to book.

India is a country, where a person might be jailed for accepting a bribe of Rs 20 but if the amount is Rs 20 crores or Rs 200 crores, then the circle of justice just gets inverted. The bigger the crime, the lesser is the chance of getting caught and even less of being convicted.

Recently, a former CVC of India was quoted as saying that corruption is a highly paying activity with a very low risk attached to it. It is time that this risk is multiplied and those, who break the law are made to pay for it.

It is being hoped by the people of India, particularly the poor, who account 70 per cent of the population that billions of rupees that really belong to them are brought back from the Swiss banks. If the UPA government in the centre wants to redeem itself, then it should take cognizance of the Wikileaks revelations seriously, whenever the same are made.

If any Indian name is revealed by the site, then the Congress lead government should immediately order an inquiry and take action against those, who have stashed away national money in Swiss bank accounts.

This money in Swiss banks has been looted from the people of India and if it is brought back to the country, the entire foreign debt can be paid off and even after that a huge amount of spare cash would be left behind for development.

But, who will do this. Does the Indian government and politicians have the strength of character and will to change the very rules of the game and put fear into the minds of those, who have been stealing from the people of India.

We are waiting for Wikileaks to release the list.

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