Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Unusual frankness

Corruption is a political issue in many countries. How often is it discussed so openly?

Indian officials told they can steal a little, but 'don't be a bandit'

Indian bureaucrats can steal a little as long as they work hard, according to a minister in the country's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh.

Yadaf

"If you work hard, and put your heart and soul into it ... then you are allowed to steal some," Shivpal Singh Yadav told a gathering of local officials in comments caught on camera. "But don't be a bandit."

The comments made on Thursday were played on newscasts across the country. Yadav, a minister for public works who belongs to the state's ruling Samajwadi party, quickly sought to control the damage, calling a news conference to explain that the comments had been taken out of context and that he had been discussing how to combat corruption…

Foreign-educated Akhilesh Yadav, who is the state's youngest chief minister, had projected himself as an agent of change, even though members of his party have been involved in criminal investigations…