One of the primary examples of how an agency can curb corruption if it is given an opportunity to work honestly and diligently is Karnataka Lokayukta. Our state Lokayukta commands special respect among such agencies existing all over India. It brought a CM to his knees and forced him to resign over illegal mining case. Many people’s representatives were sent to jail and lost their political clout finally. The whole country looked at Karnataka Lokayukta with awe.
When Lokayukta began its deep probe on politicians, all of them came together to finish it off. They have now clipped its wings and just allowed its existence to work without any hindrance. At a time when govt interferes with investigating agencies costing them their reputation and trust among people, the very first Lokayukta has been appointed in India. This was done after massive movement by people. Since LokPal can investigate the central ministers and leaders, the significance is naturally high. Even BJP had insisted on LokPal appointment when UPA was at the centre. But after clinching power, BJP fell silent over the matter.
Modi government didn’t pay heed to any pleas by Anna Hazare and many others insisting on the setting up of LokPal. But Modi government didn’t pay heed to that till the term was close to being over, and appointed a LokPal now when the govt is facing another term of elections. This shows the level of seriousness of the government regarding LokPal, because this has been done only with the lone purpose of pulling wool over people’s eyes. Corruption may not end with the appointment of LokPal. Considering the example of Karnataka, even this govt has not given total power to Lokayukta. Turning it into a toothless tiger is not a big deal of the politicians make up their minds on that.
For many years, we didn’t have justices to fill the positions of Lokayukta. With Santosh Hegde at the helm of affairs of this agency some time ago, today one wonders whether a Lokayukta even exists in the state. Country has seen how the CBI is suffering. The chief of this investigating agency was kicked out unconstitutionally because he wanted to investigate Rafale deal. Govt did not even pay heed to the SC’s directive regarding this issue. Finally, such a situation was created that the CBI chief had to resign and go out. Having used premier institutes to fulfil its political gains, the Modi government has ruined the credibility of such institutions.
Governments earlier would try to clandestinely try to control CBI and other such agencies, but Modi government has made no such cover-up efforts. Today CBI is full time puppet of the government. Hence the appointment of Lokpal is not a matter to rejoice too much. Because how does one expect LokPal to work independently when we have seen the fate of CBI? This would just be another agency established to add more jewels to their crowns.
LokPal can investigate people’s representatives too. It works as a watchdog of Democracy. If it takes up a case like Rafale, it’s not difficult to imagine how Modi would respond to it. LokPal alone cannot check corruption unless it gets full power. Else it would work like a bonded labour of central government. If this agency gets full power, the first bomb will fall on our political leaders. Why would they even make a mistake that can finish them?
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Jaipur, Mar 28: Young Riyan Parag showed why he is considered a precocious talent as he struck a stunning 84 not out off 45 balls to set up a 12-run win for Rajasthan Royals against Delhi Capitals in their IPL match here on Thursday.
Sent in to bat, RR were reduced to 36 for 3 in the eighth over but the 22-year-old Parag single-handedly took the home side to 185 for 5 with a magnificent unbeaten knock studded with seven fours and six sixes.
Parag, who was promoted to number 4 by the team management this season and made 43 in the previous match, took 25 runs off veteran South African pacer Anrich Nortje with scores of 4, 4, 6, 4, 6, 1 in the final over to hit his highest T20 score.
Chasing 186 for a win, DC could only manage 173 for 5 in 20 overs though South African youngster Tristan Stubbs (44 not out off 23 balls) kept them in the hunt till the final over from which they needed 17 runs.
Avesh Khan conceded just four runs to help RR win their second consecutive match.
South African pacer Nandre Burger and Yuzvendra Chahal took two wickets apiece to also contribute in the RR win.
"Definitely disappointed. The best thing to do from here is to learn from it. The bowlers did well through the 15-16 overs. But the batters did well at the death, hopefully we do better in the next game," DC skipper Rishabh Pant said.
DC were reduced to 34 for 2 in the fourth over with Burger taking two wickets in three balls in a fine display of fast bowling.
Burger, who was brought in as Impact Sub for Shimron Hetmyer, dismissed opener Mitchell Marsh (23 off 12 balls) and Ricky Bhui (0) in the fourth over.
DC captain Rishabh Pant came out to bat at the fall of Bhui's wicket and along with senior batter David Warner built the innings without taking too much risk. Delhi were 89 for 2 at the halfway stage.
Warner was the more aggressive one as he got the boundaries to keep DC in the hunt. The senior Australian batter fell one run short of his fifty courtesy a brilliant diving catch by Sandeep Sharma off the bowling of Avesh in the 12th over.
Warner and Pant were involved in a crucial 67-run partnership for the third wicket.
Playing in his 100th IPL match and 14 months after a horrible car crash, Pant tried to build the innings with occasional boundaries. But he got out for a 26-ball 28 as Chahal induced a faint lower edge for Sanju Samson to do the rest behind the stumps in the 14th over.
The asking rate shot up to more than 13 runs an over and DC needed 66 from the last five overs.
Stubbs kept DC in the game with two consecutive sixes off Ravichandran Ashwin in the 17th over, but in the end the Delhi side were short by 12 runs.
They needed 34 runs from the final two overs which they could not get. It was DC's second consecutive loss.
Earlier, Parag shared 54 and 52 runs respectively with Ravichandran Ashwin (29) and Dhruv Jurel (20) after RR made a shaky start.
Royals captain Samson struck three consecutive boundaries in the fourth over bowled by pacer Mukesh Kumar before nicking a Khaleel Ahmed delivery two overs later to Pant to get out for 15.
RR were 30 for 2 by then as Mukesh had given DC their first breakthrough with the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal (5).
The Royals were in more trouble after wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav literally forced his captain Pant to take a review, which later proved to be successful, to dismiss Englishman Jos Buttler for an LBW decision.
Ashwin came out to bat at number five and he lofted a Kuldeep delivery for a six to help RR reach 58 for 3 at halfway stage. He gave Nortje even a harsher treatment with two sixes in the next over that yielded 15 runs.
Ashwin, however, holed out to Tristan Stubbs near the boundary ropes for a 19-ball 29.
Parag then made his presence felt, striking two boundaries and a six off Ahmed to take RR past 100 in the 15th over.