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Journalism of Courage
Ever since the prime minister announced the cancellation of petrol pump allotments, prominent spokespersons of the BJP have been trying, busily and implausibly, to deny its implications. No wrongdoing, they chime righteously, has been detected in the allotment process and the prime minister8217;s announcement does not amount to an 8216;admission of guilt8217;.
They insist the sole provocation for the unprecedented cancellation of as many as 3,158 petrol pumps, LPG agencies and kerosene outlets nationwide and the scrapping of the entire system of making these allotments, is the noise made by the media and the Opposition8217;s clamour in Parliament.
After all, the Dealer Selection Boards that made the allotments were chaired by retired judges8230; It is tempting to sit back and be entertained by these clumsy positions. The drama of ruling party worthies tripping over the prime ministerial announcement is an amusing one. But for all those who profess a stake in a cleaner, fairer system, for all those who hope the excavation of the Petrol Pump Scam could yield a new beginning, it8217;s a disturbing scenario.
As this paper has pointed out, the government8217;s spectacular decision to cancel all allotments made since January 2000 is just a first step. A series of corrective measures must be taken for straightening out the system that bred the scam. But if sections of the government keep trying to deny there was a scam in the first place, will the larger course correction come about? The government8217;s commitment to keep doing the right thing will be tested, first and foremost, when affected allottees take it to court. It will have to act with urgency if any of the courts issues a stay order on the cancellation of an allotment; it may even have to file caveats to ensure that no ex parte order is passed on the petition of an aggrieved allottee. Will the government argue its case with the required sincerity, will it unreservedly defend its order as a policy decision taken in the public interest?
While scrapping the corrupt system Ram Naik presided over, the prime minister has promised to evolve 8216;modalities for the re-allotment on competitive bidding8217; of the existing petrol pumps and LPG agencies. He will not be able to deliver on that pledge unless his colleagues own up to his decision 8212; in letter and in spirit.
