So the TV channels won the battle for Anna Hazare. Govt finally bows to the demands of Anna Hazare's front, India Against Corruption (IAC). Not surprising at all that it was the period between India's historic world cup win in Cricket and IPL 4 that Anna chose for this crusade. TV channels needed an issue to keep their TRP's ahead of others and Jantar Mantar was ground zero for them. It was Peepli Live playing out as channels competed to outdo each other.
After all what Anna is saying is correct and the cause is just. And till when will people take corruption in their stride. It is high time that people came and out and rooted out this evil from society. The NGO's got together and mela had started at Jantar Mantar. TV channels termed the gathering of hundreds or so as a 'revolution' and India was finally coming into its own. But do we even know what Anna and his crusaders want ?
The Jan Lokpal Bill that the 'civil society' wants is to create another power structure that has unbridled powers and accountable only to themselves. Also the Lokayukta will have the authority to summon anyone and it will be considered as having the required permissions, warrants etc to do so at their will. Their disgust for politicians is absolute as the Bill mentions that anyone who has been an MLA or an MP or even remotely associated with politics is not eligible to be a member of the Lokayukta. But interestingly it says that only a Magsaysay awardee is eligible for the same. Their faith in the Ramon Magsaysay award is obviously more than other prestigious awards like Padma Shri, Padma Vibhushan and others. Or it could be to bring in members of their own choice. So even before the actual work has begun, bias has already stepped in. Then why is this 'civil society' taking the moral high ground ?.
Will it really help to create another super structure that interferes with various arms of our Govt. Our constitution has spelt out the role of all institutions clearly. The Legislature, Judiciary and Executive. After all didnt our founding fathers have the highest ideals in mind when these institutions were being set up. But over time, things change as is the normal course of nature. So we need to keep changing and adapting to the times. We need to clean the system from within rather than create another monster to deal with inherent problems. After all, even Ram Rajya didnt last too long and we were once again caught in the hollowness of the caste system.
Considering we are the world's biggest democracy, it surely makes us wonder why the 'civil society' is so much against elected representatives. Members of this society are the people who take out candle marches after a Mumbai 26/11 attack at Gateway of India. But it is the very same class that preferred to go on a vacation rather than vote in Maharashtra elections where polling percentage dipped in South Mumbai during the 2009 elections. They did the same across a few metros in India after Anna's crusade against corruption. But how many of them voted in an election last ?
At best, our national polling average hovers around the 50% to 60% mark. Which obviously means that half the country doesnt vote. And then the very class that doesnt want to stand in a queue to vote, blames the netas for ignoring them. It is the slum dweller, poor and the daily wage labourer that votes in urban areas. It is the very same common man that was sadly missing at Jantar Mantar when Anna was fasting. The 'civil society' has time to go and shout slogans against the Govt for not doing their job, but forget that they too have abdicated their fundamental duty. Their right to vote, and if they do get together. Then our polling percentage will jump over 75% and our netas will have no option but to take them seriously.
When Anna Hazare praises a Narendra Modi and then has to clarify that it was only for developmental work, he is stepping on a minefield. Does he know that Modi's Govt is sitting on a Lokpal Bill for the past 8 years ? He is right when he pushes away leaders from coming close to him to gain political mileage. But is he correct when he puts the blame on LK Advani that if his path was correct, then he wouldnt have to start a movement ? Is it fair to blame one person for all faults in society or political class ?. Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh is right when he says that people should know who funded the entire campaign at Jantar Mantar. Where was the money coming from ? Diggi Raja also wants Corporates and NGO's to come under the ambit of the Lokpal Bill. How come our 'civil society' forgot to add their own class ?
We have all heard of massive corruption in the NGO sector. Dont look beyond Jantar Mantar, reports are already doing the rounds that all the money donated to India Against Corruption (IAC) could be going into an NGO run by Arvind Kejriwal himself ! Crores and crores of money is pumped by the Govt to various NGO's in far flung areas for developmental work. Though some of them do a good job, but what about the majority of them. If they were actually utilising the money, then rural India wouldnt cut a sorry figure. Should we then blame Anna Hazare for all the corruption in the NGO sector as he blamed Advani ? And if the crusaders of 'civil society' against corruption have any sense of responsibility, the least they can do is to ask the members of the Joint Commitee on Corruption to declare their assets.
All 5 members of the Govt on the Committee have declared their assets. Why just 5 of them, all our elected representatives have to declare their assets before contesting any election. And yet they get a limited tenure of 5 years to prove their worth. It is the power of the people in democracy that is supreme. And it is the people of India who wield that power to change Governments with their right to vote. People need to shed their bias against elected representatives and become aware of their rights. Nothing will change till one forces their way through. As for our 'civil society', its always easier to preach than practice.So its time to step out and become a part of the solution rather than remain a part of the problem.
