'Government workers can steal a little'
A provincial minister in India has sparked a scandal after suggesting to bureaucrats that they could “steal a little” if they performed well in their duties
Shivpal Singh Yadav, in charge of housing and construction in northern Uttar Pradesh state, on Friday hastily withdrew the offer he made a day earlier during a meeting with government employees which was also attended by journalists.
Yadav is an uncle to the state chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, whose Samajwadi Party stormed into power on an anti-graft platform in elections held in graft-ridden Uttar Pradesh in March.
“If you work hard, you can steal a little, but don’t behave like bandits,” the Press Trust of India quoted Yadav as saying.
The comments drew flak from political opponents, prompting Yadav to retract his offer and accuse journalists of sneaking into the gathering.
“I have taken back those words,” he told reporters in Lucknow on Friday. “Why are you raking it up?,” he said.
The offer came a month after his nephew warned about corruption in the overwhelming poor and under-developed state of nearly 200 million people, a population larger than Brazil’s.
Corruption has been the biggest political issues in India over the last two years, with a string of scandals hitting the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sparking popular protest movements.
Activist Anna Hazare, who models himself on independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, and famous TV yoga guru Baba Ramdev have led hundreds of thousands in protests against endemic bribe-taking and corruption in India.
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Pointman
This is what is in store for us if we do not stop the looters here. In Uttar Prsdesh state in India, malnourished children die every day but the previous CM had 400 guards around her residence. She even built statues of herself at taxpayer expense. They voted her out of course but only to vote in another bunch of crooks it seems. Bad situation if you have to choose between the best of a bad bunch.Report Abuse
Sinudeity_
"they could “steal a little” if they performed well in their duties"LOL, in South Africa, the ANC steals ALOT and performs POORLY in their duties.
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Ndele01
It all goes back to the way you were brought up. Did your parents teach you about integrity - what is wrong and what is right ? Do you respect people, help the old people, that stealing and lying is wrong, no matter how "small" the lie ? That not being caught out doesn't make things right ?That stealing a little is just as wrong as stealing a lot ? (A guy previously wrote in the Sowetan that the one politician was not wrong in "infuencing a tender" because "no one got hurt" - this says something about him, and the house he was brought up in.
This is what makes you a quality person - you need to judge yourself aginst these things - obviously this indian was not brought up properly and does not have respect for his parents and family and the people that put him in office.
We have the same problem in South Africa - we are appointing poor quality people.....
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Gush3sh3
No matter where in the world one goes to, you will always find corruption within government. Its the way of life.Report Abuse
Obokwe
I think whatever his position he should have been sacked. This is not what I call careless talk, he actually means what he says. He only took it back because he has been exposed. Popeple like this must never be allowed to get away with such talk. Sick!!!!Report Abuse
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