Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
The image of a government adrift, constrained by the inadequacies of dynasty and a co-
alition, was magnified by reports of extensive graft and extortion, especially corruption
scandals in the coal and telecom industries that Singh appeared to have condoned for years.
Foreign investors were worried by the growing evidence of corruption, and how far and
deep its tentacles reached into India's institutions and the country's overall performance. A
London-based banker friend, in a superb British understatement, emailed me that 'India is
looking sticky'. I replied: 'Sticky indeed, but nothing much that we didn't know about, just
woodwork crumbling a bit and everything crawling out!'
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The reputations of top politicians and others were publicly undermined by revelations
targets was Robert Vadra, a brass ornaments trader who 15 years earlier had married Priy-
through land deals in Haryana and elsewhere after his marriage. Many of the deals were
with DLF, the leading and well-connected real estate developer, though it was not clear
whether the investments were on his own account or were linked to the Gandhis' money.
Leading Congress ministers including Chidambaram publicly defended Vadra when the ac-
cusations were first made, presumably thinking that was what Sonia Gandhi would want,
but they quickly backed off as details of the land and property deals emerged and indicated
close links with DLF and regional politicians.
During this period, there was also the national furore over rape and violence against wo-
men and about police brutality. Economic growth and the value of the rupee were both de-
clining and there were loud complaints from businessmen about inadequate government,
a lack of economic reforms, growing power shortages and blockages on new investment
projects, and other problems. Parliament was failing to function because of disruption by
opposition parties, and key legislations on issues such as land allocation, mining, foreign
investment in insurance, food security and banking reform were stalled. In an attempt to
reboot India's international image, Pranab Mukherjee was replaced in the middle of 2012
as finance minister by Chidambaram, who brought fresh energy to the ministry and per-
suaded Sonia and Rahul Gandhi to speak in favour of reforms that would generate econom-
ic growth. But none of this succeeded in halting the general decline.
It seemed to be too late. Sonia Gandhi's experiment of being in command as the dynastic
head of the coalition without any constitutional accountability while a captive prime minis-
ter met her wishes, was not working. She was successfully keeping the Congress party and
her dynasty in business, but India was being badly governed.
Notes
