Why This Book - Swaraj (Part -1)

I was working for the income tax department earlier.  At the end of the 90’s, the income tax department carried out a survey of many MNC’s. During this survey, these MNC’s were caught red handed evading income tax. They accepted their crime and paid the  entire amount without an appeal. Had these companies been in other countries, their senior executives would have been jailed. During the survey one chief executive of an MNC threatened the income tax team by saying that their presence in the country boosted its economy; that they were here to help a poor country like India but if the income tax department continued to bother them they would pack up and leave. His boast did not seem an idle one when he said that he had access to the parliamentarians at the centre; that he could get his bills passed and could even get personnel who bothered them transferred. The threat rang true when one of the senior officers of our team was actually transferred. 

At that time I did not give much importance to the talks of these foreign companies. I thought they were venting their anger, frustrated with the process of survey. But I started to see the truth behind their talks by many incidents that happened in the last few years. I started to question the truth of their claim; 

“Did they really have control over our parliament?” 

In July 2008, the then U.P. government had to prove its majority on the floor of the assembly. MLA’s were being bought and sold. Certain T.V. channels showed these MLA’s accepting money openly. Those video scenes gave me a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. If MLA’s could be sold like this then what is the value of our vote. Today the leaders are buying the legislators of the country to save their party. Tomorrow the same legislators could be bought by any other country like America or Pakistan. It is possible that such a thing is happening, but who knows. This thought sent tremors of terror through my mind and body.  

Are we citizens of a free country? 

Are the Members of Parliament of our country making laws for the welfare of its people only?