Reliance – The Real Natwar

Author

Arun Agrawal

Description

The connection between big businesses and Indian politicians in the theft of public funds is well-known. Take, for example, Reliance. It’s a company that, when compared to its competitors, has attracted the most litigation, inquiries, and investigations. It also holds the dubious distinction of featuring the greatest number of times in Parliament’s questions.

Of course, Reliance has arrived in any case to own three percent of GDP within 30 years. The issue is: How?

This book has already addressed this subject. It’s difficult to reach any other conclusion than that the brightest parliamentarians were involved in a cover-up for Reliance Industries in a clear-cut case of corruption after reading the text of parliamentary debates.

In India, corruption is easily covered up: files are lost, honest personnel are transferred, a tiny fine is levied, and criminal acts are compounded. At the international level, concealment is not so simple.

But then, as predicted, Reliance went through several rounds of bankruptcy and reorganization. Its executives were arrested or indicted for felonies, leaving the company in a state of uncertainty and vulnerability. One mistake could have destroyed it completely.

Mr. P. C. Chidambaram and Mr. Kapil Sibal, both well-respected and highly intelligent members of Parliament, appeared oblivious to the fact that Reliance paid a bribe. Or were these two well-known and renownedly brilliant individuals covering up for Reliance?

Mr. Chidambaram, on the other hand, was honest enough to resign from his position when he had done nothing wrong in his controversial investment in Fairgrowth Financial Services. One wonders whether he will act decently again and tender his resignation – for failing to pay income tax on the commissions. One wonders if any of Mr. Chidambaram’s honourable colleagues, the Members of Parliament, will request his resignation? If everyone has lost faith in all politicians because the greatest and brightest have frequently flattered to deceive.

The book is concerned with the country’s oil wealth, which is more valuable than gold, as well as other forms of loot and tainted issues over which the name of Reliance appears to mysteriously loom.

The book is intended to cause those in authority and the media discomfort, perhaps even embarrassment, and will not allow facts of extremely repulsive bribery to slide by so carelessly in the future. After all, why not wish?