Swaraj Paul Suspended

Swaraj Paul Suspended

Just saw a news item about Lord Swaraj Paul being suspended for a few months from the House of Lords. For submitting inflated bills.

I'm saddened for obvious reasons:

• His Indian origin will, certainly, invite comments, potentially casting aspersions on his country of origin. Whether right or wrong.
• He's obviously rich (by most commonly accepted standards). Has been rich for at least a couple of decades. I distinctly remember my student days when he was trying to "take over" one of the established corporates (If I'm not mistaken, he was trying to acquire Escorts). Despite being as rich as he apparently must be, he finds himself accused of having inflated bills!!! Like a small little clerk trying to make both ends meet by getting a few hundred bucks on the side. We ought to be condemning even the attitude of such a clerk. Imagine what our reactions will be for such a "Name" like Lord Swaraj Paul.
• Lord Swaraj Paul! By God, he was Knighted. By the very Queen. And now, this! At the very least, he must IMMEDIATELY resign from the House of Lords, surrender all his Titles, Awards, etc.
• Either admitting guilt, and apologising to the two nations - UK & India - and to the people of the two nations OR
• Denying guilt, and resigning to enable investigation, surrendering titles as a mark of protest, and filing a suit claiming damages.
• If such a thing happens in Banana republics, it is comprehensible. If it happens to Politician X or Y in India, we could possibly understand it. However, if it were to happen to certain politicians who have built a reputation, like, for instance, our own PM Manmohan Singh, we'll certainly be saddened. Likewise, Lord Swaraj Paul has been almost a role model for millions of middle class Indians. Whether he knows it or not. Whether he likes it or not. Whether he wants it or not. As cricket fans would say, this is just not cricket.
• For Heaven's sake, if a person of his stature wants to commit a crime, at the very least,
• He should have ensured that he didn't get caught - Just not on! Or,
• He should have got caught for a much bigger crime involving millions (or, better still, Billions) of pounds. Not for submitting inflated bills!!! Leave that to petty, criminally minded low level municipality / panchayat type politicians.

Lord Paul, Shame on you! Irrrespective of whether you are guilty or not.

I'll be most glad to take back these words if, as suggested elsewhere above, you resign from the House, surrender all titles as a mark of protest, file suits claiming damages, win huge sums of money by way of damages, and donate all those damages for a charitable cause of your choice in a public function.

Regards,

N

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