There’s a
golden rule in the Mafia: “Never rat on
your friends and always keep your mouth shut”. This is one reason why many
mafia guys couldn’t be put away because no member would testify against each
other. Still, when honest law officers started going after them they did manage
to find some “rats” and offer them
deals to testify against others. We have many mafias in India too; oil mafia,
coal mafia, betting mafia, NGO mafia, political mafia, legal mafia and, of
course, the media mafia. There might be some more. Thanks to all round
corruption by govts and a mockery of law and judiciary. The last decade has
seen a phenomenal growth of these mafias. Some of them have a reason to fear.
Rajdeep Sardesai screams his head off asking if Narendra Modi will be acceptable to
Muslims. He continues to rage “Modi is
hated and feared by Muslims”. All the titles Rajdeep has used for Modi or
gladly allowed to be used on his channel; Maut ka saudagar, hero of hatred,
Hitler, Butcher, Scorpion etc. are starting to haunt him. He’s not alone; there
are others in other news outlets too. I am no pundit but the wind seems clearly
blowing against their political masters; the Congress. Many of them fear NaMo
being Prime Minister. It could end the life they knew so far. They could become
an “average nobody” like you and me.
It could be worse for some who may end up in prison.
So here are
the Top 10 groups that I estimate fear the rise of NaMo to PM the most. This is
not a prediction. This is an estimate based on an analysis of facts already in
the public domain. In some of the groups it may be a few controlling
individuals who may face the heat more than the group itself. There is no
ranking, these are listed alphabetically.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
What does it
say about the supposedly premier investigative organisation in the country when
the highest court in the land calls it a “caged
parrot”? There may be many officers in CBI who will feel happy if NaMo
becomes PM. It’s the rogues and doormats who have the most to fear. Who will
nail those rogues? It will probably be the good guys who will come forward to
speak and testify. Along with them there will be “rats” who will testify
against criminal officials who used fake testimonies and witnesses to
witch-hunt their targets. The criminals among the officers are also those who
let off other criminals either through political favours to their masters or
monetary favours.
Congress Party:

No single political
group has more to fear than this one. NaMo doesn’t appear to be stupid. I
imagine he would have learned lessons from the Janata govt of 1977 who botched
up the prosecution of IndiraG for the crimes of Emergency. He is also not going
to be an appeaser like AB Vajpayee of the NDA and overlook crimes. However, it
is unlikely he will hound any of the Congress “family” members and relatives
and gently allow law to prevail. The disadvantage for Congress if NaMo becomes
PM is that he never talks about fallen
opponents. Thus, they may not generate any sympathy for themselves like
IndiraG did. The fallen ones will have to do it for themselves. In particular,
the life of the Gandhis which has been like “there is no law for us, we do what we want” may come to an end. I
can’t predict what the extended family of Vadra will do but they have much to
fear too. Sonia Gandhi will be spared but I don’t see any luck for RahulG. The
added problem for Congress is that they don’t have any other leader worth the
name. Not at the Centre, not at the State. Regional parties will score at their
expense.
Establishment:
The term
Establishment covers a very vast group of people who are usually the
foot-soldiers of a govt. However, in this list we will limit our understanding
of it to mean the ‘Babus’ and assorted
‘Top cops’. I have seen some of the
men and women of this Establishment in action. Err... no, not at their offices
but at other privileged places. Some of them sit around and gossip and constantly
plot their next haul of the “loot” or “luxuries”. These are the criminals who
delay files, manipulate files and even make files disappear. You know, like the
ones in Coalgate or the CWG scam. The honest ones (who are rare) who are
suffocating under the current Congress govt will be happy. The rest will find
the life they knew is over.
Lobbyists/Power Brokers:
Niira Radia
was probably the tip of the iceberg. Since lobbying is not legal in India these
“pimps” parade as PR agents. Deals like Agusta
Westland may not go the Bofors way. Deals like Jet-Etihad will come under
renewed scrutiny. All the brokers may not face prosecution but their business
will be dented in a big way. They will not go out of business either because no
govt survives without these lobbyists. The visibly illegitimate deals will face
a threat, including some brokers who are in the news media. The only difference
between now and if NaMo becomes PM is that national interests will acquire
priority and not private coffers.
Maoists:
These
criminals and their “useful idiots”
face a grave threat if NaMo becomes PM. My estimate is most of the groups will
be wiped out. It is essential. Under NaMo the govt may not pussy-foot on action
against them. At best, there may be one last option for dialogue and that’s
all. NaMo will perhaps not hesitate to use the full force of the Army all the
might of the State to end this nuisance. Of course, the Maoist sympathisers
will run all over crying “human rights” but it’s not going to deter NaMo. It
has never been the case that the State doesn’t know who these groups are, where
they operate, who their leaders are and how they get their weapons. The IB
officers will certainly not be talking to some Pappu types in changed
circumstances. The Maoists have survived only because of foreign funding,
supply of weapons and exceptional sympathy of the Commies within India. Most of
this menace will end.
News Media:

This group
need not fear for survival and overall can expect prosperity. But there are
definitely certain criminal elements that have been protected by the govt so
far who will face the music. Collectively, the criminal elements in this group
have hounded NaMo for over a decade but they can rest assured there will be no
witch-hunt and no actions for “revenge”. The few things that will definitely
happen are new regulations on
transparency in reporting, funding and such rules will come up. Ownership
patterns of media outlets will have to be disclosed. Some media celebs who have
so far lived the life of “power brokers”
may have to find new avenues to earn their luxuries. Those involved in power-broking
and lobbying will face prosecution as the SC has already taken up the case and
CBI will not be allowed to issue “clean chits” without fair action. The life
that some scumbags and scumbaginis lived in the last decade may be over. Some
may even retire or leave the country. Expect some mergers and divorces too.
NGOs:
Without the
slightest doubt a large number of spurious
“businesses” under this category will wind up. Not just because of NaMo but
changed govts usually dry up funding for many. It is quite possible that
temples which were being looted by govts so far may benefit by a certain level
of freedom to be managed by Apex bodies of Trusts rather than govt. The most
worried of this lot would certainly be the missionaries funded by vested
interests from abroad. They will be hit not only for stricter funding laws but
some of the “religion-businesses” may suffer because NaMo may bring about an anti-conversion law that he has already
enacted in Gujarat. There is a definite threat to operators like Teesta,
Shabnam, Harsh Mandar and the like not only for sources and use of funds but
also for certain other activities.
PSUs:
Certain
organisations in the public sector will have to shape up or get out to make way
for new management. This is not only a fear that PSUs have but also an economic
necessity. Air India may not
continue to get the doles for non-performance. That Ratan Tata has already made statements showing willingness to take
up Air India should be an indication. And people are aware what Ratan Tata
thinks of Modi. Insurance and oil companies will be under greater scrutiny on
their pricing and spending. The CEOs of PSUs who used their companies as “private yachts” will have to undergo
some weight-reducing exercises. There are those who have funded “private
parties” like the Hindustan Times Summit or the “Indian of the year” nonsense
on some channels. These CEOs may be spending time in some rural areas doing
some more constructive work. Reforms and disinvestment may return.
Scam-accused politicians:
This is a
group that is not going to be “targeted” as such. Not one bit! Remember, after all NaMo too is a politician and no
matter what, sharks don’t eat sharks
(except Congress). However, those already in the dock and named in scams will
be investigated and prosecuted faster. This is one group that should not only
fear NaMo but this is a case where NaMo
should fear people as well. If NaMo does not bring certain scam-accused
politicians to justice it would be a major failure in the fight against
corruption. The “go slow” agitation
by CBI and other investigators will end and accused like Raja, Kanimozhi, Marans,
Kalmadis and the whole gang will face justice faster. I guarantee, no matter
what Manmohan Singh will not be
prosecuted for Coalgate or any other scam although he may have fears. MMS
will be allowed to lead a peaceful life as a former PM.
Terrorists & their sympathisers:
This is one
group that has the most to fear NaMo. It is ironical to say that terrorists
have “sympathisers” but it’s an unfortunate fact. The terrorists on the
borders, especially J&K and some NE States, will have the most to fear
because NaMo is almost certain to give
the Army a completely free hand to deal with the menace. The other “verbal terrorists” who act as
sympathisers may also fear NaMo because he may bring in new laws that will
prevent the kind of speeches that Genocide Suzy and her types indulge in. The
separatists in Kashmir will not be molly-coddled as they have been in the past.
Men and women in the in the Anti-terror squads may find greater protection
under new laws that safeguard them from
wanton slandering and court cases. Cases already in the courts may see a
faster closure one way or another.
That is
that! I have always been fascinated by the Mafia and the Crooks since my school
days. Their lifestyle, their codes, their oaths and their “ethics” have always
impressed me. For instance, there is an ethical practice in the Mafia: They
never kill their targets in front of wives or family members. They could never
get Al Capone for murders; they got him for tax-evasion. Some of our Mafia
members in the above groups may face a similar fate. While I remain fascinated,
I do like and desire endings like these for the Wiseguys and the Crooks. And
the narration of the Rat, Henry
Hill, in the end scene of “Goodfellas”
(a true story) says it all (2.30 mins):
For some
members of the groups I’ve listed, the life they knew will be over. Some will
disappear. Some will turn rats and receive mercy as State approvers. Many will
become average nobodies like you and
me. They will have to wait in lines like
you and me. Some will end up in prison. But most of the crooks are guaranteed to live the life of a Schnook.