The immoral high ground

Until Railgate exploded, Railways Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had - as almost anyone would testify - an impeccable reputation. When 12 senior leaders and spokespersons gathered at the Congress' Rakabganj office (more commonly known as the war room) on May 1 to hear out Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, Bansal was one among them. Kumar till then was the only one in the eye of the storm over the Coalgate scam. Ironically, Bansal then took the moral high ground and upbraided Kumar as did the other Congress leaders for being "not the collateral damage" - but "the main damage". Little did Bansal know a fate like Kumar's awaited him in less than 48 hours. The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla and Railway Board Member Mahesh Kumar on the night of May 3. Subsequently, on May 10, both Bansal and Kumar were forced to tender their resignation.