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In a popular prime-time television discussion in Germany, the panellist, a member of the German Parliament quoting a blog said: “If all the scams of the last five years are added up, they are likely to rival and exceed the British colonial loot of India of about a trillion dollars.”

For the full text of the column by Mr Mohan Murti, former director, Europe, CII, in the BusinessLine, click                here
 

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This is an excellent write up, summarizing India & the pathetic mess that the country is. However, some still believe that we are doing great & that none others can rival our progress since we were a 'democracy'. Some more noteworthy excerpts :

In the European mind, caricature of a typical Indian encompasses qualities of falsification, telling lies, being fraudulent, dishonest, corrupt, arrogant, boastful, speaking loudly and bothering others in public places or, while travelling, swindling when the slightest of opportunity arises and spreading rumours about others. The list is truly incessant.

Europeans believe that Indian leaders in politics and business are so blissfully blinded by the new, sometimes ill-gotten, wealth and deceit that they are living in defiance, insolence and denial to comprehend that the day will come, sooner than later, when the have-nots would hit the streets.

One German business daily which wrote an editorial on India said: “India is becoming a Banana Republic instead of being an economic superpower. To get the cut motion designated out, assurances are made to political allays. Special treatment is promised at the expense of the people. So, Ms Mayawati who is Chief Minister of the most densely inhabited state, is calmed when an intelligence agency probe is scrapped. The multi-million dollars fodder scam by another former chief minister wielding enormous power is put in cold storage. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chairs over this kind of unparalleled loot.”

An article in a French newspaper titled “Playing the Game, Indian Style” wrote: “Investigations into the shadowy financial deals of the Indian cricket league have revealed a web of transactions across tax havens like Switzerland, the Virgin Islands, Mauritius and Cyprus.” In the same article, the name of one Hassan Ali of Pune is mentioned as operating with his wife a one-billion-dollar illegal Swiss account with “sanction of the Indian regime”.

“In the nastiest business scam in Indian records (Satyam) the government adroitly covered up the political aspects of the swindle — predominantly involving real estate,” wrote an Austrian newspaper. “If the Indian Prime Minister knows nothing about these scandals, he is ignorant of ground realities and does not deserve to be Prime Minister. If he does, is he a collaborator in crime?”

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One can only hang one's head in shame on reading that article as it speaks the bitter truth.

Our PM (personally of high integrity - at least very probably), seems to close his eyes to the sort of corruption and looting that would rival Indonesia's during Suharto's times.  

Look at blockade of Manipur and how little coverage it gets.  And this has been going on for 2 months.  Would any civilized country tolerate this?  Our government's response has been pathetic.  

A CM builds statues for thousands of crores but claims no funds to implement the RTE in her state.

Naveen - we don't have true democracy in our country; please stop blaming democracy for our ills.  We have voting once in 5 years but very little participation in between.

Srivathsa

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Interesting that IPL has found an honourable mention: 

An article in a French newspaper titled “Playing the Game, Indian Style” wrote: “Investigations into the shadowy financial deals of the Indian cricket league have revealed a web of transactions across tax havens like Switzerland, the Virgin Islands, Mauritius and Cyprus.” In the same article, the name of one Hassan Ali of Pune is mentioned as operating with his wife a one-billion-dollar illegal Swiss account with “sanction of the Indian regime”.

Also, the Europeans seem to be including business leaders along with other leaders:

Europeans believe that Indian leaders in politics and business are so blissfully blinded by the new, sometimes ill-gotten, wealth and deceit that they are living in defiance, insolence and denial to comprehend that the day will come, sooner than later, when the have-nots would hit the streets.

Who do we turn to?
 

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Did the politicians fall from the sky? They are one among us. The educated section of the society got quick and sometimes easy money riding on the success of globalization. This triggered greed in everyone. Add to that the regressive red tape where ever govt is involved. 

Bottom line we lack honesty and integrity.  Otherwise we as a nation wouldn't be keeping quite with all the corruption around us. We in fact silently encourage corruption at all levels.

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