Tarmak007 Edit: Wake up, Mr Antony!

With so many scams unearthed during his tenure as India's defence minister, may be it's time for Arakkaparambil Kurian Antony to do some serious thinking. Antony always managed to get away 'very mysteriously' 'despite being haunted by some of the worst-hit scams during his tenure. He has always played to the gallery with statements like: "I will not allow corruption; no guilty person will be spared; I will not tolerate corruption in defence deals." 

May be it's time for India's cleanest politician to realize that he is heading a ministry that's stinking of scams, all the time. His supporters might argue that why should he bear the brunt, when he has done nothing and his hands are clean. After all, he has punished the guilty in all scams and ordered probe(s) whenever he smelt something fishy -- his men would argue!

But, Antony's detractors would sight the latest chopper scam probe as a classic example of a delayed decision. India today needs a vibrant defence minister who can act on time and inspire its forces, they would argue. 

If Antony thinks that he is managing the show perfectly, then may be he must keep this famous saying in mind: "A stitch in time saves nine!"

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Air (oh!) India! Did India’s star product got shunted out to a silly point during air show?

The bribe-taint on the just-concluded Aero India is now getting murkier. This piece of news could give Mr Clean defense minister of India Arakkaparambil Kurian Antony sleepless nights, as it threatens Antony's constant call to embrace and brand home-grown defense products.
Top sources with a leading Bangalore-based Indian company say that their star product did not get the due it ought to have got in the static display area. After the news reports started coming out on the alleged money-for-prime-spot-deal orchestrated by Indian Air Force (IAF) official(s) during the show, sources actively involved with the company’s air show arrangements said that they had suspected some foul play then.
“We are shocked. But we were really annoyed when our products did not get the kind of visibility it merited. Some of us were very suspicious about the allotment of space at the static display area,” sources said.“It was very evident that the preferences were given to foreign companies. One of our best products which came to the show for the first time had to be pushed to an insignificant corner -- almost in the beginning of the chalet area. The best slots were taken away by the chosen ones,” sources said.

When asked why the Company did not bring the matter to the notice of the higher authorities officially, sources said: “We haven’t given any complaints in writing. We did internally raise objections to the kind of treatment we received this time. It was clear that something was amiss. But then considering our position as a company, we couldn’t do much and left the matter at that.”

Journalists no Saints: While the media might have got yet another scam emerging out of Indian defense set-up, this Aero India once again proved that they too are no saints when it came to accepting gifts and goodies. It was a sad picture to see many journos scrambling for the goodies in front of press conference counters. Some journalists were seen struggling to carry home the goods they gathered during the show. While some came with empty bags to stock the cool maals, some ensured that the ever-media-friendly-PR-managers kept their take-ways safe, in some cases when they missed them owing to their ‘pressing engagements.’In the name of Press kits, things have definitely crossed the decency limit. When last heard, a journalist managed to collect 14 different types of pen drives this time!
Shamelsss Babus: If journos always ‘live up’ to their expectations, what’s more rattling is how MoD babus too are increasingly becoming a ‘gifted lot.’ During every show, one could see how MoD babus roam around with their assistants, carrying bags overflowing with gifts. The joke that goes around Bangalore-based defense establishments is that there’s a standing instruction given to all that a certain number of carry bags with gifts must reach the babus without fail.
Gift India 2013? Going by the scams and mad rush for goodies, it is worth to think of a new name for the air show from the next edition. While Aero India has become a very common name, why not call it as Gift India 2013? While it is near impossible to clean-up Journalism and Babudom – a heady cocktail that can take anyone for an endless spin -- what can be done, is, to put in place a code of ethics to Indian and foreign companies while dealing with the press.
Gifts should be banned. Companies should just provide a brochure and a CD with photos\videos, if need be. That’s all and nothing else. It’s a shame if a journalist can’t get his\her own pen and notepad.
Amidst all this mess, Antony informed the Lok Sabha on March 7 that the size of the show in 2011 was much larger compared to the show conducted in the year 2009, on account of participation of civil aviation sector.While it is great to know that Aero India is growing, it is a matter of great concern that this growth is at the cost of suppressing home-grown products, if the latest media revelations are to be believed.
There are some rotten apples in the system bringing bad name to Indian defense establishment and it is definitely unfair to blame the responsibility entirely on Mr Antony. But, it is appalling that the scam chart of MoD is slowly, but steadily getting very active again. And, even Mr Antony might agree with this point! If he does, then he must act.
While various agencies are investigating the bribe episode at the air show, it is left to be seen whether similar incidents occurred even during previous editions of Aero India also. Will one link lead to another? Only time will tell.
Amen.

T  R  U  T  H,   M A T T E R S

(The opinion expressed through this editorial column on Tarmak007
has nothing to do with the publication[s] the blogger write for.)

Boeing crash and a black box ballet in Mangalore!

TRIUMPH: An official holding the black box of the crashed Boeing 737-800 Air India Express flight, after it was salvaged from the debris in Mangalore on May 25, 2010. Photo: t-arch-2010

TARMAK007 EDITORIAL

IT only happens in India. And as they say, IT doesn’t get bigger than this. Sadly, IT happened at a spot that snuffed the lives of 158 and dented many more. The IT in question is the event that emerged out of Mangalore on Tuesday morning. The breaking news of the moment was: FDR found intact.

People were congratulating each other. Smiles all over. A sense of great achievement. News channels reported non-stop about the ‘major find of the day.’ Shoving and pushing at will to get a glimpse of the secret box. Adding to the drama was a light drizzle, as if summoned to douse the heat.

Emerging out was a man lifting the ‘precious metal piece’ that could throw light into the reasons of the crash. He lifted the black box in one hand and waved in all direction. Left to right. Then right to left. Amidst security officials, media personnel and the search and rescue team, the man of the moment stood like a sports star holding the black-box like a coveted trophy during a presentation ceremony. Triumph Time!

These were possibly the first (as media would put it live and exclusive) visuals mankind could ever see that of a black box getting so much of attention. If you still feel what’s wrong in doing so, then read on.

Minutes later a group of search teams were seen flashing victory symbols to the battery of media men. There were also mad scramble for splitting the owner of spotting the FDR. Media debates ranged over the exact spot from it was located; who found it; exact time; amount of debris on it; angle at which it lay and so on. Every TV channel tried their very best to educate the viewer of the significance of black-box. Its use, after every crash. What it can do and what it can’t. And as a result, the whole of India now know that color of black box is: Orange!

"What will all those who lost their loved ones think after seeing these scenes of ‘celebrations’? How much of significance is a recovery of a black-box to those who are still shell-shocked and mourning?," an airport official asked tarmak007, fafter witnessing the 'black-box ballet' in Mangalore.

If it is vital to investigation, which in this case it is, then the DGCA and Air India officials should have ensured some method in madness. Media has a job to do and are well within their rights to go to any accepted levels to get the first byte and exclusive visuals and it's but natural that at times things might go out of hands as seen on TV channels. A DGCA official said that the unusual exhibition of black-box was due to immense media pressure, who were shouting repeatedly to get a glimpse of the equipment.
A Mangalore Airport official told tarmak007 that the incident has left a bad taste and even one of the experts, who came from abroad to assist DGCA officials, is said to complained about the 'fanfare' associated with a sensitive operation.

Thank God, the official holding the black box didn’t plant a kiss on to it followed by a victory lap.

And, that could have been worse than the crash!