How Operation Duryodhan was born

NEW DELHI: The idea to 'capture' parliamentarians taking money on camera was provoked by the Lok Sabha Secretariat sending a notice to journalist Aniruddha Bahal for writing on 'how questions really get asked in Parliament'.

 

Cobrapost.com Editor Aniruddha Bahal, journalist of Tehelka fame who headed the sting operation, said, “Operation Duryodhan began innocuously with a column I wrote for a newspaper on March 20. I had expressed consternation at the Casting Couch series done by a news channel arguing that voyeuristic exercises would blur the public interest element and give the government an excuse to frame some guidelines. Thereafter I went on suggest some story ideas for the channel.''

 

''One of the ideas dealt with the issue of how questions really get asked in Parliament. Apart from the seriousness, it would also generate good humour to watch an MP ask -- Why was Gorilla International blacklisted by the Railway Ministry despite having bid the lowest for the Tsu Tsu diesel engines,'' he said.
  
''I received a notice from the Lok Sabha Secretariat (Privileges and Ethics branch) asking me to respond immediately to the allegation I had made. I sent a letter to Speaker Somnath Chatterjee that I had not commented on actual happenings in Parliament but they were mere story ideas. At the same time I decided to start the probe. Thus Operation Duryodhan was born,'' Bahal added.
  
“Parliament is the living symbol of Indian democracy. It was where the people speak through their elected representatives and become participants in governance. It is where the nation, in its multiple voices, debates and argues the public cause. Its members have to follow the code of conduct set by the Parliamentary Ethics Committee and they were always under public and media scrutiny,” he said.
  
''We found during the course of our investigation that this sacred institution was being undermined by a few,'' he said.
  
While most Indian parliamentarians raise issues and questions purely on the basis of public interest there were a few who set a price on this public duty of theirs.
  
''For us at Cobrapost.com it was an astonishing revelation. Cobrapost and Aaj Tak have the deepest respect for the institution of Parliament and with this investigation it is our endeavour to strengthen it further,'' Bahal said.
  
''It was not an easy task. Besides we wanted the entire operation to be comprehensive and hence had multiple meetings with the MPs from April to November. It was shocking to see that despite some MPs being suspicious of undercover operations -- It did not serve as an obstacle between them and the money,'' he added.

 

Narendra Kushwaha of the Bahujan Samaj Party had said, ''Hope you are not taping all this. Do not get me into trouble.'' However his initial apprehension did not deter him from accepting the bribe.
  
Manoj Kumar's (RJD) middleman -- Tripathi (Chotiwala) -- was a colourful character and his ponytail and vermilion smeared forehead could mislead everyone. However he was a master of the trade and even suggested that when the 'packet' (money in this case) was being delivered the code should be 'Gulab Ka Phool'.
  
At the meeting on November 9 with Pradeep Gandhi (BJP) at his residence, he got wary and suspected undercover reporters from the media were behind it. He proceeded to check the bags thoroughly and finally proceeded to take the cash.
  
Aaj Tak News Director Q W Naqvi said ''as a channel our commitment has always been to expose the inherent irregularities in the system. Partnering Cobrapost for this special investigation is a step towards demonstrating our commitment towards the faith reposed in us by our viewers.''

 

''We are overwhelmed by the encouraging response to this investigation. The Lok Sabha Speaker, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman and all the political parties have taken serious note of this investigation. Political parties have promised action against the offenders. I am sure such efforts will help in further strengthening our democracy,'' Naqvi added.