In the later part of 1990s, a reasonably good public building was built just behind the State Secretariat in Bhubaneswar. The building was the talk of the town. Many went almost wild, levelling allegation that big corruption was there in making the building. Late Basant Biswal, then the Minister, Water Resources was the target.
The Building was completed and was formally opened. Among others, Sudhanshu Mishra, the Chief Secretary ,and I (Additional Chief Secretary) attended the opening ceremony. A few Departments of the Government were shifted to the new Building which was named Rajiv Bhavan.
Almost during the same time , another good building was completed nearby, on the Sachivalaya Marg. That Building was of the State Bank of India, for their Local Head Office. The Building was formally opened by the Chairman of the Bank. I had attended the opening function as well. After the inauguration ceremony, we went inside and talked for a while over a cup of tea. Casually I enquired about the cost of the Building. In comparison I did not notice Rajiv Bhavan was costlier.
I wondered why then people were making full throated allegations of great corruption relating to Rajiv Bhavan construction. Shortly thereafter, election was held, Congress Government was voted out and a new Government came in. I had thought that the champions of probity and high integrity who had cried hoarse over corruption relating to Rajiv Bhavan would not allow any government activity in that Building which epitomised corruption.
I was wrong; no such thing happened.
We have a tendency to vilify others. We speak against a person’s corrupt dealings with so great pungency as if we had been the person’s former Chartered Accountant having access to his Books of Account. If we have free time, there are other and better means of utilising the spare time.
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12th August, 2016
The Building was completed and was formally opened. Among others, Sudhanshu Mishra, the Chief Secretary ,and I (Additional Chief Secretary) attended the opening ceremony. A few Departments of the Government were shifted to the new Building which was named Rajiv Bhavan.
Almost during the same time , another good building was completed nearby, on the Sachivalaya Marg. That Building was of the State Bank of India, for their Local Head Office. The Building was formally opened by the Chairman of the Bank. I had attended the opening function as well. After the inauguration ceremony, we went inside and talked for a while over a cup of tea. Casually I enquired about the cost of the Building. In comparison I did not notice Rajiv Bhavan was costlier.
I wondered why then people were making full throated allegations of great corruption relating to Rajiv Bhavan construction. Shortly thereafter, election was held, Congress Government was voted out and a new Government came in. I had thought that the champions of probity and high integrity who had cried hoarse over corruption relating to Rajiv Bhavan would not allow any government activity in that Building which epitomised corruption.
I was wrong; no such thing happened.
We have a tendency to vilify others. We speak against a person’s corrupt dealings with so great pungency as if we had been the person’s former Chartered Accountant having access to his Books of Account. If we have free time, there are other and better means of utilising the spare time.
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12th August, 2016
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