BIRDS OF THE SAME FEATHER
WHEN FENCE ATE THE CROP
I have always believed that men, which includes women as well, are essentially same all over the world. From Melbourne to Mumbai to Manchester, except in their dress habits or eating habits, most things have a common streak. The other day, my sense of being an Indian felt betrayed when I read in the press about Britain’s first Muslim woman peer of Asian origin had claimed £ 100,000/= as expenses on a vacant flat. ‘The Sunday Times’ of London reported that Labour MP Baroness Uddin has been claiming allowances on an empty flat in Kent. The peers who live outside London are allowed this allowance, while she actually lived in Wapping, some 4 miles from House of Lords. She had bought the flat some 4 years ago, but according to neighbours never occupied, but has been claiming some £30,000 per year as accommodation expenses from the govt. The fact that the Baroness is of Bangladeshi origin really did not make me feel less mortified. The disturbed feeling persisted. Then there was another news headline that said “Expenses row in UK claims Pak-origin minister Shahid Malik as first victim”. The Daily Telegraph newspaper had reported that Malik had claimed 66827 pounds on his London home while paying less than 100 pounds a week on a house in his constituency which he designated as his main residence. Besides he had claimed money for a Home Theater and massage chair. Before quitting Justice Minister Malik was suspended by the Brown government, despite his strong defence of his claim.
And then, comes another press report from American source, that there are many VVIPs in the house of commons too who have committed this financial misconduct. Not that my sense of betrayal felt comforted, but then, the thought crossed my mind, aren’t we all same when it comes to human tendencies! The TIME magazine reported in one of its May issue, that dozens of British law makers are facing scrutiny over leaked expenses claims statements.
Although claims are within legal limits, ‘are they real or bogus’, is what is bothering the audit teams. Offenders include, the British Prime Minister himself. Mr. Brown had claimed £ 10,000/= having paid to his brother for arranging cleaning services. Another VVIP to include in the list was Mr. Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister. Mr. Blair has reportedly remortgaged his constitutuency home for over $ 450,000 and claimed a third of the interest as an expense at about the time he was buying another property in London. Shockingly the list included Sein Fein MPs including Gerry Adams, who despite not attending Parliament claimed over $ 450,000/- over a 5 years period. Douglass Hogg is another VVIP who made it to the list by claiming $ 3000/- for a moat at his estate and another $22000/= for home services. Of these Mr. Brown and Mr. Hogg have offered to pay back $ 10,000/- and $ 3000/- respectively.
Didn’t we always complain that Indian MPs are not above board, when it comes to claiming expenses which are not really their entitlements. Our colonial masters, the British, always claimed that Parliamentary Democracy is their gift to India, probably gift pack included these aberrations as well! Is that how the idiom “Fence ate the crop” come about?!
I & C Feature
I have always believed that men, which includes women as well, are essentially same all over the world. From Melbourne to Mumbai to Manchester, except in their dress habits or eating habits, most things have a common streak. The other day, my sense of being an Indian felt betrayed when I read in the press about Britain’s first Muslim woman peer of Asian origin had claimed £ 100,000/= as expenses on a vacant flat. ‘The Sunday Times’ of London reported that Labour MP Baroness Uddin has been claiming allowances on an empty flat in Kent. The peers who live outside London are allowed this allowance, while she actually lived in Wapping, some 4 miles from House of Lords. She had bought the flat some 4 years ago, but according to neighbours never occupied, but has been claiming some £30,000 per year as accommodation expenses from the govt. The fact that the Baroness is of Bangladeshi origin really did not make me feel less mortified. The disturbed feeling persisted. Then there was another news headline that said “Expenses row in UK claims Pak-origin minister Shahid Malik as first victim”. The Daily Telegraph newspaper had reported that Malik had claimed 66827 pounds on his London home while paying less than 100 pounds a week on a house in his constituency which he designated as his main residence. Besides he had claimed money for a Home Theater and massage chair. Before quitting Justice Minister Malik was suspended by the Brown government, despite his strong defence of his claim.
And then, comes another press report from American source, that there are many VVIPs in the house of commons too who have committed this financial misconduct. Not that my sense of betrayal felt comforted, but then, the thought crossed my mind, aren’t we all same when it comes to human tendencies! The TIME magazine reported in one of its May issue, that dozens of British law makers are facing scrutiny over leaked expenses claims statements.
Although claims are within legal limits, ‘are they real or bogus’, is what is bothering the audit teams. Offenders include, the British Prime Minister himself. Mr. Brown had claimed £ 10,000/= having paid to his brother for arranging cleaning services. Another VVIP to include in the list was Mr. Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister. Mr. Blair has reportedly remortgaged his constitutuency home for over $ 450,000 and claimed a third of the interest as an expense at about the time he was buying another property in London. Shockingly the list included Sein Fein MPs including Gerry Adams, who despite not attending Parliament claimed over $ 450,000/- over a 5 years period. Douglass Hogg is another VVIP who made it to the list by claiming $ 3000/- for a moat at his estate and another $22000/= for home services. Of these Mr. Brown and Mr. Hogg have offered to pay back $ 10,000/- and $ 3000/- respectively.
Didn’t we always complain that Indian MPs are not above board, when it comes to claiming expenses which are not really their entitlements. Our colonial masters, the British, always claimed that Parliamentary Democracy is their gift to India, probably gift pack included these aberrations as well! Is that how the idiom “Fence ate the crop” come about?!
I & C Feature
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