战略与国际研究中心-2G-or-Not-2G_-Confronting-Corruption-in-India_2页_462kb

U.S.-India Insight Summary

Core Content

This document, titled "2G or Not 2G: Confronting Corruption in India", published in May 2011, discusses the widespread corruption scandals that gripped India during what was referred to as "scam season." The focus is on how these scandals have affected the Indian government, civil society, and international relations, particularly with the United States.

Main Scandals and Issues

Commonwealth Games Scandal

• The Commonwealth Games, intended as a symbol of India's global standing, became a national embarrassment due to:
  • Missed construction deadlines
  • Deficient housing facilities
  • Allegations of billions of dollars siphoned off through corruption
• Suresh Kalmadi, the organizing committee chairman, was arrested for his role in the scandal.

2G Telecom Scandal

• A major scandal involving the allocation of 2G telecom spectrum at below-market prices.
• Andimuthu Raja, the telecommunications minister, was arrested along with two aides.
• Estimated loss to the government was around $40 billion, surpassing the annual defense budget.

WikiLeaks Diplomatic Cables

• The Hindu, a prominent Indian newspaper, published leaked U.S. diplomatic cables that revealed:
  • A Congress Party member showing U.S. diplomats cash, possibly for bribes
  • This fueled public outrage and highlighted the deep-rooted nature of corruption in India's political system

Pilots' Corruption

• A scandal involving Indian pilots falsifying records, cheating on exams, and bribing officials for licenses.
• Highlighted the extent to which corruption has permeated various sectors and even endangered lives.

Government Response and Legal Measures

• The Supreme Court struck down the appointment of P.J. Thomas as the top anticorruption official due to corruption allegations.
• The Lokpal Bill was introduced to establish an independent ombudsman to investigate and prosecute corruption in public offices.
• The bill was being drafted by a bipartisan team of five government officials and five civil society activists.
• The government met some of Anna Hazare's demands, including incorporating civil society input and establishing the Lokpal, but the final outcome remains uncertain.

Role of the Middle Class and Social Networks

• The India Against Corruption campaign gained significant traction, especially with the involvement of the urban middle class.
• Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter played a crucial role in mobilizing public support, with over 205,000 Facebook fans and 9,000 Twitter followers.
• Campaigns such as Avaaz.org and IPaidABribe.com aimed to collect data on corruption and push for stronger legal frameworks.
• The Fifth Pillar initiative encouraged citizens to report incidents and use symbolic tools like a zero-rupee note to send messages to officials.

Key Quotes and Observations

• "The problem of corruption is far bigger than what the Lokpal Bill envisions and intends to resolve."
• "Corruption is an impediment to faster growth and hurts the poor most."
• "We must recognize there is little public tolerance for the prevailing state of affairs."

Conclusion

• The "scam season" has exposed deep-seated corruption in India, affecting various sectors and institutions.
• While the government has responded with legal measures, the long-term success of these efforts depends on sustained public pressure and accountability.
• The involvement of the middle class and the use of technology in the anticorruption movement mark a significant shift in India's political landscape.
• The document emphasizes the importance of addressing corruption as a critical challenge to India's democratic development and economic growth.

Links of Interest

• U.S.-India Relations: Upcoming speech by Ambassador Robert O. Blake at CSIS.
• India's New Foreign Policy: Covered in the current issue of The Washington Quarterly.
• Campaigns:
  • India Against Corruption: Facebook (205k fans), Twitter (9k followers)
  • Avaaz.org: 658,000 signatures collected for the Lokpal Bill
  • IPaidABribe.com: 36 crores (about $8.1 million) self-reported in bribes
  • Fifth Pillar: Encourages reporting and symbolic protest against corruption

The document concludes that while the current movement is promising, lasting change will require continuous vigilance and accountability across all levels of governance.