Great point!

It is really callous to say but still now at last industrialist, who funds political parties, will finally ask for some important results, unlike earlier times when they used to just think about personal benefits.

If for even one second Indians stop thinking about their personal interests, and think an iota of bit for the nation, we can transform into a developed nation overnight.

Of course, the recent Mumbai carnage, targeting the creamy layer of elite of the society has a wider ramification. The financial Capital has fallen prey to the indiscriminate bullets of terrorists.

However, as far as the funding (in particular under the table, unaccounted for) to politicians are concerned, days are gone when political leaders used to depend on their financiers within the country. Days of licence, quota and permit raj are almost over. So why should one dole out easy money to the politicians. Moreover, over the years, politicians in power have found a dubious way of getting unaccounted funds in Government deals with foreign suppliers of hydrocarbons, arms, ammunitions, aeroplanes etc. This was the case of Bofors dealing. Bofors gun has been rated the best. Arun Nehru, the right hand man of Rajiv Gandhi suggested to the then Prime Minister that what was harm in collecting the due commission from the supplier and then when both parted ways and became political foes, Arun Nehru leaked the deal.
At the same time, elections are becoming so costlier day by day that it is beyond the capacity of Indian capitalists to meet the ever increasing demand of politicians. Hence, the dependence of Indian politicians on foreign friends.
Politicians in India have refused to learn any lesson from the Bofors’ exposure.

Days of Rajni Patel (the middle man between the then Bombay based industrialists and the Congress, led by Mrs. Indira Gandhi) and the strong man S.K. Patil are only footnotes of the history of the country post independence.

But it is the fact that small time and district politicians will suffer immensely if the funding sourcees are dried up.

We already heard Ratan Tata’s views on the Government’s role on security, He was scathing in his criticisms.
All the political parties are the same. However, this is the first time that the super rich have been affected and that has come as a shock- and it hurts.
I am glad our media is lively and fiesty. I was impressed with the NDTV’s reporting. Barkha Datt was absolutely fantastic. She had tears in her eyes. Yet, she continued right through. Hats off. Unlike other places ( like Pakistan), where people riot after an event like this, here, we behaved in a civilized way and protested in a civilized way.

The best tributes to the martyrs and victims of Mumbai massacre will be a movement demanding total transparency, openeness in the governmence and political parties’ functioning so that the nexus between the corrupt politicians and obliging businessmen for favours is exposed if not eliminated.
The Right to Information is doing wonders as skeletons in cupboard have started coming out. Everything, every transaction in the U.S. is not above the board but the rule of law prevails, if one is caught and chances in that open system of governance in the United States of Americ and European countries are that the culprit may not got scot free.
Here in India we have a gang of politicians and bureaucrats, the two streams who are out to help each other, save each other from embrassing situations if one is caught indulging in nefarious activities. Mind it, the gang does not discriminate on the basis of political leanings, caste, creed, colour and region.

According to me, this will effect the funding for sure. This time election will not be a usual campaign. It will be different. One, the people of India are very angry and two, these high profile gentry also shook this time. Lets see what change does this bring to the 2009 elections.

This is the time when the masses in India along with the rich community should unite and teach the corrupt section of politicians a good lesson. Let them run out of money for the election campaign. Not even that we should collectively boycott elections till the time they decide to put some intelligent and deserving person as a leader. Not just any XYZ.

Its not easy to change the 50 yr old political structure of India. These oldies are not willing to leave the politics. The first step to bring change in the system or the society is to change yourself. Till the time we do not change our thought process and decide to bring a revolution, nothing will change.

These attacks have laid an unforgettable impression on the mind of every citizen of India. We are angry, we are frustrated, we are agitated, we are sorry and we are scared. You never know when the next attack happens and where. Its high time that the politicians realize their responsibility towards the society and do something in our favor.

It is matter of just lack of wisdom to decide the right and wrong in absolute terms.

Is it not wishful thinking to expect our politicians to behave sensibly? What has happened is that the nexus of politicians and businessmen, doing deals in the beautiful boardrooms and executive suites could not save themselves this time around. This is what has shocked the establishment. Further, the targeting of British, Americans, Jews has offered an undesirable oxygen of publicity to the really horrible situation in India, where the Intelligence services leave a lot to be desired. Where the political interference is at every level and no senior post is filled without the ’influence’ of some higher up political ’godfather’. 2008/12/2 Anil

We must think and act to improve the system in a united way.