We had Narasimha Rao who was anointed as PM under fortuitous circumstances following trafic assasination of Rajiv embrolied in cotroversy like JMM Bribery scandal. Ramjeth Malani produced a signed affidavit alleging his then client Harshad mehta indeed paid a bribe or 1 crore to PM. Either he should have proved it or bar council should have stripped of his professional licence for it was a signed affidavit and it amounts to perjury if it is false. Vajpayee had his share of scams including coffin gate, Tehelka expose etc. In fact what we saw in Telecom ministry, was a culmination of his governments decision to permit switch over to revenue sharing regime from fixed licence regime. We had scandalour privatisation under Arun shourie reputed to be honest.

It is true that one needs to address corruption in public life as it endangers the body fabric of indian polity. The talk of black money siphoned in Swiss bank was even an election issue. But the logical step would be to tax this so called ill gotten wealth and legalise it using for productive purpose in nation building. One should know that the flight of capital was also partially due to inherent maladies in our tax system with heavy dose of taxation even up to 90% tax incidence. A thorough overhaul of tax administration initiated by P Chidambaram has resulted in better compliance. Even now the Kelkar committe recommendations have not been fully implemented. These are the urgent issues facing the nation rather than rabble rousing talks.

The socalled civil society movement against corruption and institution of Jan Lok Pal bill was used by the middle class indians - who are neo rich and elitist to black mail a democratically elected Government. Forget Anna Haazare and Arvind Kejriwal other members have a hidden agenda. Following suit Yogic Guru Ram Dev who have a large following amongst the middle class and officaldom suddenly calls for a fast for confiscating ill gottten wealth and slashed away abroad. A spine less government despatches four of its senior Ministers to receive this Guru landing in the capital in his private jet and confabulates with him on the steps to arrest black money spread. The Guru  then hogs in a lime light. Well the rest to follow