India's aviation minister under fire

India’s aviation minister under fire

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is defending the conduct of a high profile minister in the federal government who has been accused of spending public money for personal comfort.
The row started over a hotel bill in Goa
Newspapers have reported how civil aviation minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy, belonging to the BJP, allegedly used the resources of a state owned company under his ministry, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), for his personal comfort and benefit.

According to Indian law, state owned companies are not supposed to pick up the tabs of their political masters.

But in practice, this rule is flouted by most ministers.

The controversy began when The Indian Express newspaper reported that Mr Rudy had not picked up the tab for his stay in a luxury hotel during a five-day visit to Goa with his family earlier this year.

Instead, the newspaper reported, the hotel made out the bill in Mr Rudy’s name with instructions that it be sent for payment to the AAI.

‘Delaying payment’

So far the BJP has thrown its might behind Mr. Rudy who also paid a sum of 269,000 rupees ($6000 approx) to the hotel against the bill on Monday.

Mr. Rudy has said the AAI was never meant to pick up the hotel tab and he was only delaying the payment to negotiate a cheaper rate with the hotel.

Mr Rudy’s woes have not ended with the payment.

Where’s the question of any wrongdoing?

Rajiv Pratap Rudy
An Indian newspaper on Tuesday published photocopies of the bills paid by the AAI to refurbish Mr Rudy’s office and his official residence.

The bills – photocopies of which are also in the possession of the BBC- run in to millions of rupees.

They are for buying items as varied as fancy mobile phone sets for the minister’s use to providing a fountain in his residence.

The newspaper reported that Mr Rudy had allegedly used his position to get the AAI to lay a lawn at his residence and provide a full time gardener, build an extra room and get a number of air conditioners, air coolers, geysers, water purifiers and room heaters.

The AAI has paid for the drapery, false ceiling and the wooden flooring of his office and residence.

Paintings worth nearly 225,000 rupees ($5000) for Mr. Rudy’s office were also charged to AAI.

‘No resignation’

India’s opposition Congress and communist parties have demanded Mr Rudy’s resignation and a thorough probe in what they describe as misuse of public funds and a complete disregard for norms.

Speaking to the BBC on telephone from his home state Bihar on Tuesday, Mr Rudy said he had committed no wrong and there was no question of his resigning.

He said all the money that the AAI has spent on furnishings or equipment – either at his office or official residence – remained the property of the public sector undertaking.

“So where’s the question of any wrongdoing?” he said.

Mr Rudy said the public sector companies have always picked up reasonable bills and expenses of ministers and what he has done was nothing new.

“It’s been going on for the last 30-40 years. Every minister does it. Congress party ministers did the same when they were in power,” he said.

Mr. Rudy may be right and most Indians will believe him when he says that everyone else has been doing the same for years.

But the timing of the controversy has given the Indian opposition an opportunity to taken some sheen out the BJP’s ‘India Shining’ campaign – a series of slick advertisements showcasing development.

“I have become the victim of political vendetta. But I will fight them back politically,” Mr Rudy told the BBC.

But the opposition campaign is causing considerable embarrassment to the BJP.

The English speaking and dapper Mr Rudy is one of a number of youthful and articulate leaders that the BJP wants to project in an election where youth power is likely to play a crucial role.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3477701.stm