National

"Innocents Are Falling Victims"

Y.P. Trivedi, who heads the Bombay chapter of the Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC), presides over difficult times. Not only must he deal with an economic crisis, with capital steadily flying out of Bombay, but extortion is on the rise and a spate of ki

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"Innocents Are Falling Victims"
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What is responsible for the current rise in extortion and killings?

The underworld has penetrated deep into society. And this is because of the nexus between criminals, politicians and policemen. Also in a deteriorating economic situation, possession of a car or other expensive luxury items might invite extortion. The underworld also keeps a close watch on those who fly first class. There is a real feeling of uncertainty among the business community.

It’s said that most of those killed have borrowed from gangsters or are otherwise involved with them.

We have no sympathy for a section of builders and their like who are linked with the gangsters. But what we are seeing now is simply extortion in which innocents are falling victims. Today the situation is such that people are afraid of flashing their wealth. People now prefer a low profile; far from an ostentatious lifestyle, even reasonable living is not possible.

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Can you hope to solve the problem before it goes totally out of hand?

When Al Capone held Chicago to ransom, he was brought to book by the Internal Revenue Service of the US. Here our government departments and laws have no teeth. Films are glorifying crime. Value systems have totally changed. People want easy money. Moreover, extortion is controlled by corrupt politicians. Then again, we require a total revamp of the judicial system. Today only gangsters can afford the best lawyers. Governments have no capacity to hire people like Ram Jethmalani. We are doing our best but only one chamber of commerce cannot lick the problem. All right-thinking people must come together in this fight.

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