The concern expressed by P. Sainath in the article “Bribes: a small but radical idea” (April 21) is genuine. The suggestions given by Kaushik Basu on legalising bribe-giving are distasteful. It is shocking that the paper is on the Finance Ministry website.
The idea that the bribe taker should be punished while the bribe giver can be tolerated is absurd. Such funny ideas bring disrepute to the bureaucracy as a whole.
C. Chandrasekaran,Madurai
Dr. Basu's advice — described by him as a “small but fairly radical idea” — should be rephrased as a “clumsy and radical blunder.” The idea of legalising one aspect of bribery in a country reeling under the pressure and dirt of corrupt people and scamsters is outrageous and devoid of sensitivity. It is a glorified paradox that, on the one hand, the whole country has reacted and vented its anger and frustration against corruption by participating in the fight for the Jan Lokpal Bill and, on the other, we have officials giving us ideas on legalising corruption and making a distinction between harassment and non-harassment bribes.
The idea is nothing but harassment and abuse of the common people. Trying to lure a particular person with a bribe for some service is as bad as accepting it. What is the need to give bribes? As citizens, we are entitled to various services. No Lokpal bill can be effective unless people resolve not to indulge in corruption.
Arjun R. Shankar,Thiruvananthapuram
Dr. Basu's ideas point to the vulnerability of our administrative system to pernicious ideas, absurd suggestions and unwanted debates. The nation is already neck deep in scams and the fate of the scamsters uncertain. The absurd ideas are an attempt to institutionalise the act of lining the pockets of fraudulent individuals. In the name of giving ideas, Dr. Basu has done a disservice to the nation misusing the Finance Ministry's website.
B. Rajasekaran,Bangalore
Such ‘radical ideas' can be expressed only in India. The rich who have become richer by bribing have become habitual bribers. Bribing gives them the strength to indulge in all kinds of crimes and justify the same. Unfortunately, the strength of democracy is represented by a large number of such people. It will take several revolutionary movements to get rid of corruption.
B.K. Mohanty,Hyderabad
Legalising a part of corruption is no remedy. In fact, the medicine is worse than the disease. It is surprising that a high-ranking government official has offered such a solution instead of suggesting strong steps to curb bribery. At a time when the Lokpal bill is being discussed, it is unfortunate that the suggestion has emanated from the Chief Economic Adviser to the Ministry of Finance.
G. Ramachandran,Thiruvananthapuram
Even if Gandhi were alive now, he would have failed to fight corruption. This monster is well entrenched in our public life. The indifference and inaction from all concerned, including the common man, is such that it cannot be eliminated.
V.S. Ganeshan,Bangalore
Another fine article by P. Sainath, which disturbingly exposes the rather cavalier and irresponsible views expressed by the Chief Economic Adviser. His advocacy of legitimising bribe-giving stretches one's credulity to the limit. Such a view can come only from helplessness born of cynicism. I am sure no government will consider such ideas seriously.
I.S. Kanthimathinathan,Tirunelveli
The legalisation of bribe-giving in cases of “harassment bribes,” with the bribe-giver enjoying immunity, will institutionalise corruption. Bribe-seekers will be emboldened to brazenly cast about for bribes; after all, the risk is only theirs.
We should not forget the harsh reality that corruption is sustained by the firm and unwritten understanding between the bribe-giver and the bribe-taker — that neither will betray the other. Even those who have an unassailable conviction about the pressing need to fight for public probity cannot take on the petty but corrupt babus, unless they are really resourceful and menacingly powerful.
S. Balu,Madurai
The idea of legalising bribe-giving is preposterous. It shows the extent to which society is seeped in corruption. Our ethical values have been tainted grey and we are unable to make a distinction between black and white.
R.P. Durai Jasper,Vellore
It is ironical that when people like Anna Hazare are taking the initiative to end corruption, a high government official wants one of the most corruptive acts, bribe, to be legalised. Such a move will provide a better platform for corruption to thrive. A person may justify bribe-giving on any ground but the fact remains that he is injecting a virus into society.
Sasna Saifudhin,Kozhikode
Dr. Basu's theory that condoning the bribe giver will lead to a significant reduction in bribery is far removed from reality. We do not want such theories, which indirectly convey helplessness in combating corruption, from our government officials. The need of the hour is to root out corruption and for that, bribe-giving as well as bribe-taking should continue to be treated as wrong.
Col. K. Thammayya Udupa (retd.),Udupi
There may be lapses in Dr. Basu's reasoning but it cannot be rejected out of hand. The 2G scam accused should not be equated with the man on the street, who is forced to pay bribes even to get legitimate work done.
Shifting the force of law to the bribe-taker who abuses his office, rather than the common man who is harassed, will certainly play a role in dismantling the skewed structures of power that make bribery possible.
Vishal Bondwal,Faridabad
There is a need to classify bribes into punishable and non-punishable, not as legal and illegal as Dr. Basu proposes. It is true, a bribe is a bribe, small or big, and both taking and giving bribe are illegal. But, as there are ‘lies and lies,' there are ‘bribes and bribes.' All lies are wrong, but some lies are not morally incorrect if they serve to save a life or give solace to a grieving person.
Big industrial houses and rich persons buying top officials and Ministers through bribes should be brought to book. But that cannot be the case of a common man who is forced to give bribe for getting a service that is essential for his normal life such as getting a ration card, income or caste certificate, birth or death certificate, driving licence, etc. No common man ever willingly bribes to get his legitimate entitlement. He is forced to give bribe as he has no other option.
K.V. Ravindran,Payyanur
