White Paper on Black Money - Why this Drama?
THE Government has announced that it would bring a white paper on black money. And this is covered by every news media in the country as if they are going to bring us manna from heaven. All that they are going to do is to make even the white paper black. Most of the Hon'ble Members of our Parliament are crorepatis and the Hon'ble Finance minister has assured them that none of their names figures in the list the Government has.
Who is interested in unearthing black money?
The politicians are undoubtedly the largest repositories of black money – you need at least a Crore of rupees to become an MLA and at least 10 Crores to become an MP – all in black. Would they like their black names in the White Paper? And these politicians make all the laws and all the White Papers. Why would they ever want anybody to get at the black money?
Next to the politicians, perhaps the babus have the highest stock of black money. They help the politicians in preparing the White paper – why should they blacken the paper?
Perhaps the next category would be the businessmen – the merchants, the real estate dealers, the hoarders, the black marketers, the contractors who all have to invariably generate and handle black money at least to feed the babus and Netas - to make their profits. Why would they want any White paper on the black money?
Then, there are the professionals like doctors, accountants, lawyers who all generate tons of black money – they are not interested in anything white, even if it is only a paper.
Of the shaky pillars of our great democratic edifice, at least two – judiciary and Press were perceived to be honest - white, but recently we had an eminent lawyer telling the Supreme Court that some of the former Chief Justices were undoubtedly corrupt and promptly the credentials of the lawyer were questioned. And Journalists – well if everybody is generating black money, why should they lag behind? Ram Nath Goenka used to say that once upon a time journalists were missionaries – they have now become mercenaries.
Even the very honest people are forced to generate black money and give a bribe at least once in his life.
Can we take some solace in our Godmen who preach sitting on top of mountains of black money?
Can I turn to God? Lord Balajee, in spite of getting washed with purest water, rare oils and whitest milk is jet black with all the black money pouring into his hundi.
Who, then is interested in this meaningless White paper on Black Money. I am sure some black money will be generated even in the preparation of this White paper – in buying paper, printing, design and distribution.
Once we have the courage to accept the fact that black money is a reality involving too many people, we will realize the futility of wasting time, money and precious paper on criminal White Papers. In this context, the suggestion of FICCI to allow amnesty for foreign funds should be extended to funds within the country. We need another Voluntary Disclosure Scheme – at least we can get some money, instead of reams of white paper filled with black official jargon full of civil service literature that would be discarded into the dustbins of history.
Let us not make that paper black.
I am reminded of a Hindi song - Mera jeevan kora kagaz – kora hi rah gaya, which ends with;
Woh sukhi hai jo khushi se dard sah gaya - He is happy who bore pain unperturbed.