Andhra Pradesh

Ill at will?

No one knows whether this VIP syndrome is acquired or a natural consequence. But politicians, influential people, rich persons fall sick soon after being arrested in any case or lodged in jail and get admitted in hospital. Of course, for some, it is a clever way of avoiding jail.

From Charminar Bank crisis to firing in film actor N. Balakrishna’ s house, there are scores of such examples. Now the question is will that repeat in the case of Satyam Scam, billed as biggest corporate fraud in India, as well?

Satyam employees are hitting back at media reports and at comments made by other biggies of the IT industry with almost a patriotic fervour. So much so that an employee was recently heard telling a group of his friends how they would form a ‘Satyam Army’ to fight the ‘others’ and prove their ‘satta’ (worth).

And the anger of Satyam employees is not directed at their own company, deep in fraud, but against other companies who have asked HR companies not to hire Satyamites. For once, the IT industry seems divided - supporters of Raju on one side and non-supporters on the another. Truly, only in a country like India are prayers and support offered for confessed fraudsters by the victims themselves.

“Please remove your shoes”, that was the request put up at the entrance of the model unit built by the A.P Rajiv Swagruha Corporation at Pocharam on the city outskirts. The newly built houses were being inspected by Ministers and hence the care. Everyone obeyed the plea and put on the chappals kept to step on to the glazed flooring of the apartment. That was till Housing Minister Botcha Satyanaryana and Information Minister A. Ramnaryana Reddy arrived.

The Ministers followed the instructions and removed their footwear. But the accompanying Congress workers didn’t follow in their footsteps. They gave two hoots and stomped inside leaving their footprints on the glazed tiles. The media men too followed suit. The Corporation officials didn’t know what to say. They were seen pulling up some of their own ‘erring’ staff. But others failed to take the hint.

It was an occasion to highlight proactive measures to be taken to combat terrorism, but it also turned out to be a perfect reunion for retired police officers. The seminar on “To take a pledge to defeat terrorism” organised by the Association of Retired Police Officers here saw the latter embracing each other and enquiring about their well-being after retirement. A few of them recalled their past experiences, while some cracked jokes with their friends. Officer s also recounted the major cases solved during their tenure. Some officers even suggested a series of steps to tackle increasing terrorists’ activities. It was indeed a perfect occasion to exchange pleasantries.

Satyam Computer Services, touted as the IT bellwether by unsuspecting scribes, is somehow condemned to be always in the news. Media circles reverberated with the chant of ‘Satyam’ the whole week, reaching the crescendo in the latter half. The difference is that it used to be for respectable reasons earlier, while now, it is in the maelstrom for all wrong ones. However, not much has changed for Mr. Ramalinga Raju. Earlier, he was the blue-eyed boy of the print m edia which ran features on what he ate, and how he lived. Now an encore follows with newspapers reporting on what he ate and how he lived, albeit in prison. Celebrity status has its own halo!

MARRI RAMU,

D.V.L. PADMA PRIYA,

J. S. IFTHEKHAR,

M. SRINIVAS AND

SWATHI. V

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu