Monument to logic

This8230; is being submitted three weeks ahead of the extended period of this inquiry8230;8217;8217;, reads the Justice S. Narayan Commission report at the end of Chapter XXII, an edited version of which appears on our oped page today. That sentence bears repeating in these columns because its burden is so refreshing. When was the last time an inquiry commission refused to ask for more extensions than it deserved? But this commission is remarkable for more than the fact that it did not seek to perpetuate itself unbearably. Set up by the Mulayam Singh government to investigate corruption charges against Mayawati in the Taj Expressway Project, it concludes that her government followed due process. Then, it does that rare thing: it looks at the project as an independent entity, as an event and process to be assessed not just in terms of whether or not it involved any corrupt political transactions, but also on grounds of its public utility, or lack of it. The Commission unambiguously advises the UP government to implement the expressway project without delay.

In India, we have a long history of vital projects and plans being stalled or derailed because allegations of political corruption have settled over them. This has especially held true for the Armed Forces. Here, from Bofors to Barak, through HDW and Denel, the mere whiff of scandal or sometimes just some deftly aimed innuendo, has been enough to kill off the deal. Mostly, the vital question of the merit of the defence system in question has not been allowed to gain centre stage. Defence deals in our country have become a time-tested pretext for government and opposition to fire at each other. They have launched into our politics many a blood feud without let or end. They have seldom privileged the issue of defence modernisation or factored in the price of prevarication.

The Justice Narayan Commission report should not remain a one-time departure from a generally dismal rule. As work on the 150-km expressway resumes after three years, the road between Delhi and Agra must hasten a new acknowledgement from the system. India needs better, more modern infrastructure. The country8217;s politicians had better make that top priority.