With Indian Politics, the Bad Gets Worse

'Shameful' Vote in Parliament Highlights Extent of Government Corruption Washington Post Foreign Service Thursday, July 24, 2008; Page A14 NEW DELHI, July 23 -- There were backroom deals. There were wads of cash waved about as alleged evidence of bribery. There were six lawmakers on hand who had just been sprung from jail so they could cast their ballots. So it went on the floor of India's Parliament this week during a historic vote on whether to back the government and its controversial nuclear deal with the United States. Even by Indian standards, it was bad. Members of Parliament were throwing money on the floor, asserting they had been paid off by the ruling Congress party to support a measure of confidence in the government. "It's stupefying. And as an Indian, it's shameful," said Jagdeep Chhokar, a founding member of... [read full story]