Fresh attacks on Tehelka
Khisiyani Billi, Khambha Noche
 

Who are the people clamoring for the heads of  Tehelka Guys ? Bangaru, Jaya Jaitley, and all other fellows who are badly affected by Tehelka expose. They are so shameless. They are like an angry  cat who is so pissed off about failing to catch the smart mouse that she starts scratching the nearby piller.

So what if prostitutes were used to expose the corrupt by Tehelka journalists? If money can be used, prostitutes can be used too. They do exist, don't they? In fact they are a better bet than money. They have been used by great nations and intelligence groups. Army intelligence uses them. So why not use them to expose the corrupt elements in the army? There cannot be a better way of catching the corrupt bastards, these traitors, these white ants, who have eaten away the foundations of our economy and compromised our security.

The transcript of new tapes damn our PM too. They show how PM ignored the warnings of army officers about Kargil to conduct his bus dilomacy and how little the lives of our Jawans matter to our politicians and army officers.

I am surprised at the reaction of some of the senior journalists over the issue. What is their problem? What do they find unethical about Tehelka methods and why? What is wrong if Tehelka is pro-active in its approach and catches the corruption brigade with its pants down?

Kuldip Nayar has all along been writing stories based on gossip and cocktail party conversation. It is unethical for him to badmouth Tehelka. The man of establishment, the fallen God of investigative journalism, Arun Shourie tried his best to put down Tehelka's brave efforts. He did not succeed.

What has really been troubling these senior journalist? Why don't they come out and support Tehelka? Do they suggest any other way of catching the corrupt bastards? Tejpal is right. He did not not want to show army officers screwing high class prostitutes at the time he released the first tapes. It would not have served his main objective i.e. exposing corruption in high places. However, the power of wine, women, and money is a well known fact. Kuldip Nayar and all other veterans who are now permanently settled in the corridors of power, and who hobnob with the rich and famous as special invitees to power parties, are well aware of it. They never raised their voice because they did not want to loose their access to the high and mighty.

Unfortunately, very soon Tehelka will be embroiled in a spate of court cases. Every attempt will be made to gag Tejpal and his team. Finally, the whole issue will be hushed up and also forgotten. The main opposition party will tacitly collude with the government in this process. In all probability Tehelka would cave in and would be co-opted by the establishment.

The people will remain where they are. Corruption will continue to grow at the cost of common, underprivileged, sick, maltreated, malnourished, starving, and dying Indians.

The NDA government is yet another betrayal of the people's trust. The first non-Congress government has proven itself to be as bad as the Congress, if not worse, on issues related to corruption. However, the Congressmen were much better administrators.

The state of perennial hopelessness and despair would remain as it is.

What do we do? Where do we go?