Friday, November 09, 2012

IAC - What's The Game Plan?

IAC is live on TV - their expose #4. After Vadra, Gadkari and RIL, I was eager to see what was next on his hit list. It's been 20 mins now - and Arvind has been showing off a list of 700 names with accounts in HSBCs Geneva branch. Amounts like 100 Cr for the Ambanis. Is that even significant for businessmen like Mukesh and Anil whose net worth is in the billions? Kokila Ben was mentioned as one with an account but no balance! Then why is he mentioning her? He says three of the people on the list were raided - so what is the problem? He says the Ambanis and Naresh Goyal have paid tax on the amount - yet he demands a raid on them, to find out whether they were involved in Hawala. Arvind, do you have proof of their involvement or are you shooting darts? What exactly is the point?

Now he wants all industrialists and businessmen to submit detailed accounts to figure out IF they have been involved in hawala! Really, is this an accusation based on any proof of wrongdoing, or are they guilty until proved innocent?

Ok, now the main grouse he has is against HSBC. He wants top HSBC officials to be immediately arrested under prevention of money laundering and for waging war against the country! He wants HSBC to share with the government all details of all accounts of all Indians and that these be made public. When a reporter asked him, wouldn't this hurt the genuine people with hard earned money, he says there are many other banks and people should withdraw money and put in other banks. He thinks people should be ready to make that balidaan.

Oh yes, he also informs you that it is easier to open an account in HSBC than in SBI.

And now he has requested all 32000 employees of HSBC in India to resign for Bharat Mata's sake.
So after politicians, businessmen and banks, what next? Education Institutes? Will we see a real case being filed?

A few months back, India saw huge hope in the anti-corruption movement. Now one wonders - are we entering a phase where the mainstream media and social media will be used as a weapon to humiliate and accuse people, and leaders and businessmen will be guilty until proved innocent?

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