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Comment by airocker | Hacker News Reader

You have 55 countries between rank 85 and rank 140 that are better match to Pakistan than India: https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2022 , why this privilege to only us Indians? I read the above comment as "See we are as good as Indians, this is just a blip".

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You objected to "In South Asian politics, bribes are a way of life", that statement is still true.

I rest my case.

On a scale of 100, Pakistan got a 27 and India 40. Definitely similar. Particularly as Pakistan's perceived corruption score has been falling, likely partially due to Khan's highlighting of the issue.

Fun fact: In terms of rank , the difference between USA and India is similar to India and Pakistan. Maybe the commentor could have chosen USA for comparison.

Funny thing is perception, these comments just harm India's perception for readers here. Why drag us here?

Fun fact, there's a 13 point gap between rank 1 and rank 10. So those two also are apparently incomparable.

Why are you comparing rank? They give the index a score for comparisons sake.

If I were working to set up a business in one of the two countries, maybe a thirteen point gap in perceived corruption would be important to me. But for casual conversation they're both very corrupt.

I am not here to dissect the point difference. I am just saying why drag us here and not the other 55?

It is a familiar trope when it comes to India: dragging it to any topic that is potentially negative. ISRO launches a new rocket? "Oh but India is so poor does it really need a Space Industry?". And it is mostly perpetuated by Indian Elites themselves as they want to get into the good books of their Western counterparts. It is just an extension of the brown coolie mindset ("Yes Sir! At your service Sir!") that has carried on since the times of British Colonization. Where looking down upon India was and is still a fashion among these Indians with inferiority complex. I have lived 34 years of my life in India. Never have had to pay a bribe. Through all sorts of Governments (Governments that I liked and Governments that I disliked). Now my anecdote will be summarily dismissed with "but yours is an anecdote and doesn't represent India". Sure. So does yours! Yet somehow your pitiful description of India is more valid than my experience of living in India.

All these so called "rankings" are mostly fudged/distorted statistics to push a narrative. Why do I say that? Take a look at the "Press Freedom" rankings as an example. Afghanistan has higher ranking in "Press Freedom Index" than India. Can you believe it? Taliban ruled Afghanistan, which has pretty much demolished any ounce of Democracy that was left in its country, has freer press than India? LMFAO. The authoritative government of Uzbekistan has freer press compared to India in the same ranking. Such useless rankings shine no light except can be used as points to counter/shutdown criticism.

Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar gave a really good interview recently where he highlights how these rankings are cooked up/manipulated. Must watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH5qw_rijRI

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