Anti-corruption may be the first step, but AAP needs to do more

The Aam Aadmi Party has set up an anti-corruption helpline that saw more than three thousand callers registering their complaints. Arvind Kejriwal today said the response was overwhelming. But will this step be able to do away with corruption, or at least, will it be able to bring it down significantly? While the AAP remains confident about the anti-corruption measure, a lot of critics remained sceptical. [caption id=“attachment_1332215” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Arvind Kejriwal. AFP[/caption] BJP’s Sambit Patra said on a debate on CNN-IBN that while any anti-corruption move is welcome, it was a useless helpline. “I wont call it a gimmick. Any helpline that doesn’t register or address your complain, I would call it a helpless helpline. The system has to be cleansed from within,” he said. The Congress, however, was of the opinion that it will support any step that was against corruption. “Frankly, after the Lokpal Bill has been passed the Congress has every reason to believe any step to curb corruption is a step forward. We need to support any kind of initiative against corruption,” said Sanjay Jha. The AAP has been of the opinion that this measure will act as a deterrent and Prithvi Reddy reiterated this point on the CNN-IBN debate. “The corrupt, till now, did not have fear of consequences. They think the justice system takes so long that they can go through their lives without being punished. And now that will change,” he argued. “This helpline instills fear of punishment. For too long people thought they could get away with anything. But now they have to watch their backs,” said Reddy. Lawyer Harish Salve, however, was not so convinced with this method of going after the corrupt. “Of course citizens must participate, but we need some cleansing from within. Let them remove the discretionary rules that reek of corruption,” Salve said. Meanwhile, former bureaucrat Arun Bhatia was of the opinion that if one corrupt officer was caught, then it will instill fear among the other officials. “It is an excellent measure. The attempt is not wrong, but the logistics have to be figured out. Just ten people have to be caught. It is the deterrent that keeps things running,” Bhatia said. He added that along with this, internal audits should also be done. “Kejriwal should also streamline government monitoring and auditing efforts. He will find many irregularities without outside information,” Bhatia said. While the AAP government is being closely scrutinised for each and every step it takes and is facing much criticism from its opposition, social activist Kiran Bedi was of the opinion that they should be given a chance. “Earlier the citizen could go nowhere. You cannot find all answers in nine days. But this is a first step forward. This is linking people to the government,” she said. However, Harish Salve remained skeptical and said that catching a few officers here and there would not make much of a difference. “Few officers are caught now then even now but it hasn’t had a deterrent effect. I don’t know how average citizens will conduct sting operations. There are existing systems in the government, they just need to be made user friendly. Create an anti-corruption wing that can trap the corrupt,” he said. Reddy defended his party’s measures. “It takes away the helplessness the citizens of the country feel today. We have also said if it doesn’t work. we will help people get their job done,” he said. Also, this may be a method to catch the small fry, but will it act as a deterrent against large scale corruption like the 2G scam and the Coal scam? Bhatia was of the opinion, “Big corruption is built on petty corruption. The black money and the benami land, it is all done by the tehsildars and the deputy collector. The sub-inspector is the guy who dilutes the case or highlights the case,” he said. However BJP’s Sambit Patra thought otherwise, “Integrity lies from top to bottom. It is not the tehsildar, but the CM is to be blamed.” Meanwhile, Reddy said that the two types of corruption needed to be separated. “These are two very different corruptions. We cannot laugh away petty corruption because it affects the common man. A lot of big ticket corruption is collusive. We need to separate the two,” he said. Salve too agreed with Reddy, “People at the top are clearly out of this helpline measure. But my life was not affected by the 2G scam. What affects my day to life are bad roads, bad water supply. Whenever you come in contact with govt you get irritated,” he said. He suggested that while this may be a first step, there should be other accompanied measure to curb corruption. “Vigilance officers need to be in place, who after complaints are registered can check files and look for irregularities,” he said.