India Today Conclave 2014: In India, political corruption is rampant, says Salve

"Eventually, Edward Snowden will be able to return once good sense prevails. However, I don't see that in the next five to 10 years," Jesselyn Radack, the Director of Security and Human Rights, Government Accountability, US, said at the 13th India Today Conclave in New Delhi.

Photo: Parveen Negi | Mail Today

American whisteblower Jesselyn Radack on Saturday, March 8 said she seriously belives the National Security Advisor whistleblower Edward Snowden will return to the United States one day.

Photo: Parveen Negi | Mail Today

Speaking of individual rights, Salve gave more prominence to public interest than national interest. "Preventive detention, Emergency and draconian provisions are bogus. Rampant wire-tapping, snooping, you name it and everything is being done in the name of national interest. We need to find the balance between the two," said the senior lawyer.

Photo: Vikram Sharma | India Today

"In India, political corruption is rampant," Salve said, adding, "You can make as many laws as possible to protect the whistleblowers. But unless you implement radical police reform and change the judicial system, they have no hope in India," Salve maintained.

Photo: Vikram Sharma | India Today

He added, "I don't say there is no fear about terrorism."

Photo: Vikram Sharma | India Today

Asked if India needs an Edward Snowden-like figure, Salve said, "It's just that we don't want to talk about it. The government romanticises the problem, creates fear and then tries to assume more and more power."

Photo: Vikram Sharma | India Today

"Edward Snowden is winning awards all over the world, while the US is calling him the worst of the bad," Radack said.

Photo: Vikram Sharma | India Today

In the Indian context, a whistleblower is a misnomer, said senior Supreme Court lawyer Harish Salve. "When we talk about whistleblowers, the situation is worse in India," he said.

Photo: Parveen Negi | Mail Today