PR discussions: Re: [prpoint] Debate: Rs.1760000000000

Please read the story on how a so called "PR and Communications' consultant is involved in the scam, making the mockery of PR & Corp Communications profession.

2G scam: Babu-lobbyist nexus being probed

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2G-scam-Babu-lobbyist-nexus-being-probed/articleshow/6944050.cms

NEW DELHI: As the probe into the telecom scam grows in scope and scale, the Cabinet Secretariat has begun investigating the nexus between senior bureaucrats and corporate lobbyists. Four former bureaucrats are under serious scrutiny for their links with a powerful lobbyist, according to top-level officials in the government, who did not wish to be named.

The lobbyist in focus is Nira Radia. Her public relations and lobbying business includes Vaishnavi Corporate Communications, Noesis Strategic Consulting Services, Vitcom Consulting, and NeUCom Consulting.

.......

The Enforcement Directorate (which investigates foreign exchange violations), CBI and income tax have been on Radia's trail for a while now. They have been examining the banking transactions, including cash withdrawals, of Radia and her firms to establish if she used money to influence those in decision-making positions.

As part of the same investigation, the ED is also looking into the role of Noesis Consultancy in the grant of telecom licences to private operators in 2008. And in October 2009, the CBI, on the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)'s prompting, registered a criminal case against "unknown persons" for conspiring in the allotment of 2G spectrum to cause loss to the exchequer.

Regards

Martin Xavier

Doctoral Fellow,

Anna University-Chennai

+91-9500060716

From: Vernkatraman Rajendran <venkrajen@yahoo.com>
To: prpoint@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, November 18, 2010 8:26:52 AM
Subject: Re: [prpoint] Debate: Rs.1760000000000 - Loss to the Nation :(

A good and bold opinion from Ms Susan Koshy. But truly speaking, already we have enough laws. Accountability and judicial activism are all already in place. Corruption is rampant, onmipresent, omnipotent and of course omniscient too. It can buy any one, silence any one. Certainly this is a very huge amount of money so huge that not one but many not only party but two maybe more parties are 'party' to it. We can be rest assured that no one, repeat no one politician, is going to be arrested and be actually put behind bars for this mother of all frauds. I am sure in many earlier cases like Lalit Modi (wherein too many politicians are involved), much more than the culprit (or accused) it is the politicians who would try to sabotage the case and ensure there is no conviction, because they know when the accused falls, he is going to ensure that other men (and women) with whom he has shared the booty also fall!

Everyday we read in the newspapers that government official, RTO's Tahsildars, policemen, traffic police, Commercial Tax staff are arrested red-handed while receiving bribe (by CBI sleuths or DVAC sleuths). But out of all these arrests which result in immediate suspension, do we know that 91% of the cases are reinstated. Only a little more than 6% are actually proved later and a little than that convicted, because by the time conviction comes, either the officer is retired or sick.

Frustrating and desperate, but what to do?

V Rajendran
Advocate and Cyber Law Consultant
044-22473849; 9444073849

From: susan koshy <susankoshy@hotmail.com>
To: prpoint@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, November 17, 2010 9:49:48 PM
Subject: RE: [prpoint] Debate: Rs.1760000000000 - Loss to the Nation :(

Thank you all who participated in this debate, for the interesting views and opinions and suggestions expressed.

My opinion -

Corruption has become rampant in our country, and the kingpins in this expertise are the 'leaders' on top - supposedly ruling/governing our country. And why do we have them continuing to massacre our country's values, governance and economy? Because as ministers, they are above the law. Permission is needed to prosecute them. Why? Why should ANYONE in a democratic country - any country for that matter - be 'exempt' from the law except with special permission? And often, there is reluctance to do so because they are also guilty of having their finger in the pie and dare not do anything that risks exposure of their own involvement in illegal and criminal acts. Some officials who were apparently hand in glove with Kalmadi in the CWG have been taken into custody, and Kalmadi still moves around scotfree.

1) We need to first make all equal in the eyes of law. Anyone, ANYONE should be automatically accountable and chargeable in the eyes of law. How effective can the communicators and the media propagate a movement towards this goal?

2) And the judicial law needs to be accountable too. While the Supreme Court has rightly and repeatedly pulled up authorities and even the Government for delays, why should it be unaccountable about the inordinate delays in disposing cases? Culprits escape penalties under the garb of such delays. Why does the Supreme Court not pull up the authorities for this slackness in appointing judges if this is the issue? Why does it not give an ultimatum just as it does when pulling up authorities on other issues? Can the communicators and media sensitise the SC on this?

3) Even then, the judicial system also be accountable anyway, for the delays, dilly-dallying, innumerable adjournments and in the course, delay of justice, to the advantage of the culprits? Courtrooms and their offices look like museum of antique and ancient scrolls, files and papers piling for disposal. Why can it not be improved with the times and upgrade its systems and procedures?

Can we as communicators, and the media which has done good work in bringing to light these scams, work towards these reforms? Can we not?

Susan

To: prpoint@yahoogroups.com
From: pbraghavendrarao@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:21:50 +0530
Subject: Re: [prpoint] Debate: Rs.1760000000000 - Loss to the Nation :(

Dear Sri Narendra

Your suggestion is good and as expressed with concern by Sri Srinivasan it is high time in our country for the sane people and people with the background of PR, Communication skills and experience should come forward for finding out ways to contain and control such corruptional activities though not possible to totally eradicate.

Who will Bell the Cat? Why do not you initiate it with the support of Prime Point Foundation which has the association of stalwarts like Abdul Kalam, ex-Election Chief Commissioners etc. Also PR bodies, GFPR etc., can be associated We can involve the honest Corporate Chiefs Like Sri Narayana Murthy etc.,and also the present generation people from Corporate educational institutions. It is a patriotic job and future generations will revere our services in this direction. Your rich experience having worked in the PM's Office would be a plus point.

Think it over, Sri Narender ji.

Kind regards

P.B.Raghavendra Rao

camp; Pune

--- On Wed, 17/11/10, Narendran A <naren_vna@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Narendran A <naren_vna@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [prpoint] Debate: Rs.1760000000000 - Loss to the Nation :(
To: prpoint@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, 17 November, 2010, 1:59 PM

Dear Friends

I feel pitty for the PM. For having such people in his cabinet.

We need to have a group of people study way and means of how corruption happens in this country. Bring in a process whereby politicians become accountable to whatever decision they make. This is the right time to moce forward.

Best regards

Narren

From: P B Raghavendra Rao <pbraghavendrarao@yahoo.com>
To: prpoint@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, November 17, 2010 12:55:37 PM
Subject: Re: [prpoint] Debate: Rs.1760000000000 - Loss to the Nation :(

HEY! HAIL MR.A. RAJA, AS THE NEW" BHARAT RATNA" IN CORRUPTION"!

Sri Srinivasan's query as how the interference of media/communicators/PR sect can prevent such corruptions is a valid point of discussion. Sri Narendra's Mahabharata instance is indeed fit into in this episode though more and more characters ranging from 'Dravidian' influence to the persons holding excellent and extra super authority than vested in the constitution, are involved.

The present corruption supercedes all the earlier ones since Raja 'Saheb' has shown a new way by which the amount has to be calculated only thr' electronic gadgets than writing down with pen. Perhaps the amount involved in the corruption may bring an international fame since in no other country, at all, such huge corruption would have made by a single Minister(ofcourse with the blessings and support of the above mentioned personalities).

In any yard stick the present Government has lost the moral ground to tule the country after this most shame ful scam perpetrated playing with the sweat earned moneys of the common man of the country, leave alone the enquiries, Commissions and what not going to come in this regard.

Oh! God no political party or no 'veteran' leader or administrator has an exception to corruption. I think it is a "Kaliyug Dharma' to have corruption at the top!

By the by the national decorative titles already have lost its charm and why noot the 'Bharat Ratna' be conferred for 'scams' too since doing such scams need tremendous brilliance and net work so beautifully owen with other personalities not seen in the forefront.

P.B.Raghavendra Rao

--- On Wed, 17/11/10, Shivshankar Surkund <snsurkund@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Shivshankar Surkund <snsurkund@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [prpoint] Debate: Rs.1760000000000 - Loss to the Nation :(
To: prpoint@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, 17 November, 2010, 5:21 AM

Hi there,

Former PM Indira Gandhi, when confronted by a foreign journalist on 'corruption in India' she hit back saying 'it is an international phenomena'.

Public memoryisvery short. How many remember 'sukh Ram' then Telecommunication Minister of Congress Govt. CBI found in his house, crores in cash scattered on fllor and in many gunny bags. He too resigned. His statement in the media was 'it was party's (congress) money'.

Hence, even this one too willbe forgotten. The question is about thedisclosure made by Ratan Tata - a bribe was sought of rs.15.00 crores to start a new domestic air-line with help of Singapore Airlines. Howcome, he waited for all these years to disclose this ? Now the guess work is Late Pramod Mahjan,who isno more.

Now Telgi too is forgotten.

s.n.surkund

--- On Tue, 11/16/10, Prime Point Srinivasan <prpoint@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Prime Point Srinivasan <prpoint@gmail.com>
Subject: [prpoint] Debate: Rs.1760000000000 - Loss to the Nation :(
To: "Prpoint Group" <prpoint@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 9:46 AM

dear friends

"Rs.1.76 lakh crores" is the figure that Indian people and media are now discussing day in and day out. Now one of the Hon'ble (?) Ministers A Raja has resigned. CAG has submitted his report to the nation, alleging an estimated loss of Rs.1.76 lakh crores to the nation, in the 'spectrum scam'. Supreme Court has questioned the lethargy of Prime Minister in taking note of the scam.

It is a mind boggling figure that one cannot even imagine. Probably, this is the mother of all scams in the independent India. Though the estimated loss to the nation is around Rs.1.76 lakh crores, the corruption money involved is estimated to be around Rs.50 to 60 thousand crores.

Definitely, the Minister Raja alone would not have been the only beneficiary of this mega corruption. There should be more and more partners. The mere fact that our Hon'ble PM also did not want to take notice, even after a petition was sent to him way back in 2008, reveals many hidden stories. There should be more and more beneficiaries of this scam.

Besides politicians, many corporates (known and unknown) might have been the beneficiaries. Greedy corporates join hands with greedy politicians to rob the nation for their personal gain.

Do we have a role as communication managers to prevent such 'national robbery' and to create awareness about transparency in governance.

Srinivasan

Prime Point