core sector communique

AMRI – the Second Disaster.

With the entire Todi - Goenka  top brass either behind bars or on the run, the response of the accused (or shall we say accursed) has been pathetic, to put things mildly.

First was the knee jerk reaction, allegedly by a section of the employees which did the desired damages. Then came the much publicized letter from FICCI – a classic case of false bravado and wrong wordings sending erroneous signals – which predictably led to the snubbing by the Hon. Chief Minister. And now, a carefully orchestrated campaign to hammer a wedge between communities!

The media is being inundated with stories as to how the vengeful Ms. Mamata Banerjee is venting her ire on a political opponent – the Late Jyoti Basu’s, card carrying so called prodigy – Mr. S.K.Todi. The line is sought to be refurbished by inane references to the Company’s Act which apparently says that directors cannot be held responsibly in case of tragedies like the one that befell the hapless patients at AMRI! The apologists are also drilling home the point by ensuring their prolonged stay behind bars, the Government is sending wrong signals to the industry. “Together, the Todi’s and the Goenka’s represent close to INR 5000 crores. Surely, they deserve to be treated better than petty criminals! They cry in unison. Yes, you think. Money is definitely a differentiator and the rich and the mighty must be subjected to a different set of rules than that is meted out to “ordinary” (read poor) citizens like you and me.

The fact that these men, blinded by the power of the erstwhile rulers could (and did) get away with murder in the past and that they could flout all rules with impunity are still unable to comprehend a simple fact – that their “protectors” are themselves in disarray and that they are no longer above the law. The fact that none of the accused have yet shown any concern about the dead, brought about by their negligence and conscious decision to break rules for pecuniary gains also goes to refurbish the point. Such is the arrogance of the accused that even while the enormity of the disaster was unfolding before the stunned populace; they were busy turning their inevitable arrests into “surrenders” while packing off those who could take the flight!

To put the last nail on their so-called coffin, the spin doctors are putting forward another fantastic accusation. Apparently, in hushed tones, it is being said that the Marwari Community is being victimized selectively. The idea behind the ploy is to paint the prosperous Marwari community as the victims and put pressure on the near bankrupt state government with veiled threats of a “flight of capital”.

Some of the stories that have appeared in a section of the media have taken this line with quotes from “unidentified” industrialists who have either claimed to be thinking of setting up their green field projects elsewhere or are seriously contemplating leaving the state. Clearly planted, the stories are aimed at driving a wedge between communities, where any Bengali backlash will be used to further the cause of those cooling the heels.

I need not reiterate the tolerant nature of the state or her people. The fact that the thriving and prosperous Marwari community here are literally at home is also well accepted. As a matter of fact, they too are increasingly getting vocal about the sinister attempt by the media mangers to pass on the sins of a few to malign the entire Marwari community.

From the PR point of view, all the steps taken so far are not only doomed to fail but are also pushing the case to the region of no return. Instead of rubbing public sentiment the wrong way and taking a stand of brinkmanship against   the Government, they will do a good thing by scaling down the operation and making a clean breast by immediately apologizing for the errors of omission and commission.

A section is also trying to distance the Emami group from the tainted Todi by claiming that they were the mere financial partners and that the real management control was in the hand of the Todi’s. What they are leaving unsaid is that that they be judged “leniently”, because of their limited say in the actual running of the hospital. This line, while a tad bit better, will also not work as in hindsight they never complained or declined to share the loot that the so-called wrong actions gave rise to.

What now? As one veteran journalist put it, the response so far has been according to established lines of communist propaganda which have failed miserably. Now is the time to hire the right communication experts – people who will help whitewash the blood and the gore. As things stand, that too will be a Herculean task, for megalomaniacs used to getting things “done” by paying the right “price” are not easily wont to seeing the light of the day.

As for your friendly neighborhood grocery “Rani Sati Store” closing shop and going off to Jhunjhunu, even the most skeptical will tell you that it is all hogwash!