Don8217;t falter now

The diamond industry has risen to the defence of Bharat Shah in a curious fashion. Worrying misperceptions about the reasons for his arres...

The diamond industry has risen to the defence of Bharat Shah in a curious fashion. Worrying misperceptions about the reasons for his arrest are revealed by the decision to go on strike and in the text of advertisements in the press. Expressions of solidarity for an industry leader and one of its most successful members are unexceptionable. But the protests go further than that. The industry8217;s interests are wrongly being conflated with Shah8217;s. It is misleading to make out that the whole industry is under attack. Shah may be a leading light, several other enterprises up and down the chain obviously depend on his companies and many are beholden to him. But surely the law must take its course whether it is the mighty or ordinary mortals, whether the charges are laundering mafia money or, as this newspaper reported Thursday, smuggling diamonds. Special pleading is not called for. True, the industry is vital to India8217;s economic interests and accounts for 15 to 20 per cent of export earnings and employs lakhs ofpeople. It is moreover one of the few export success stories based largely on private enterprise and skill. True, the industry has constantly been under competitive pressure from Israel and Europe and faces new challenges from China. But diamond traders are also resilient, innovative and quick to respond to a changing environment. The heavens are not going to fall because the police are compelled to investigate one member.

Endorsement from L.K. Advani for Maharashtra8217;s tough law to control organised crime is well timed. It will boost the morale of law enforcers in Maharashtra just when all kinds of cross-currents are swirling around them. The boldness and shrewdness required to move against Mumbai8217;s powerful and well-entrenched mafia bosses have been in short supply in recent years. Uncovering the links and severing them will be a long, slow, painstaking process. A start has been made in the film industry. What the current operation has revealed so far is by common consent only the tip of the iceberg. Much more sleuthing is needed to uncover the rest. It would be a great pity if the Mumbai police8217;s work is prematurely scuttled by a wrong reading of the objectives or by vested interests.

The mafia8217;s connections run through the political, social and economic fabric. Just how much fear the dons occasion in the business world can be judged by the zero turnout at the income tax department8217;s auction this week in Mumbai of property confiscated from Dawood Ibrahim. More than the city8217;s well-being is involved. The Mumbai underworld is seen in some official quarters as a security risk to this country. If that is somewhat overstating the case, it is nevertheless a fact that the mafia8217;s reach extends very far. It is therefore a good time to consider whether the best way to move against it is isolated action like the clean-Bollywood operation ostensibly is or whether a wider operation should be begun on the back of what the Mumbai police has unearthed. Given the ramifications of an underworld based abroad and operating fairly freely in this country, the Centre and state would do well to consult closely and decide on the next best steps.