The newspapers, the television, even my 5 year old niece; everyone is talking about Anna Hazare. Nicknames galore, running from a gimmick of the opposition, to a pain in the a^* for the government, the simplicity of the man has gotten lost somewhere. Anna today has a 102 fever, reports the doctor, along with lung infection. Television channels (including some who have lost credibility given the recent highlights of scams), talk with concern about his health. Few, led by candid journalists, talk about the Parliamentary debates and the deadlock that has been triggered by the man.What one cannot ignore in the midst of this fast are the accusations that are flying between our leaders. The net of this falls wide, from Kapil Sibal, to forgotten Mister Lalu Prasad Yadav, from the pragmatic Modi to 'bhodrolok' Pranab babu. The parliament and the MMRDC maidan seem the same, a lot of noise, some speeches and a furious debate about a significant debate that (if it reaches a conclusion), could well shape the future of the biggest democracy of the world.
The lokayukt or the Lokpal seems to be the Tendulkar of politics, someone who can take it to another level, but only if he/she has the powers. The powers will come from those who he will judge. So isn't this a catch 22 situation?
A country that is fighting for the lifting of the ban of the Gita in Russia, so that its culture is safeguarded needs a lesson in it, or so it would seem. It has been one where the King has been answerable not only the public but in the private sphere, where Sita was asked to leave as Ram's subject questioned her "purity". We seem to have reached a point where our "leaders" are not ready to accept public inputs in their workings (parliamentary debates and law making process), forget being answerable for any private undertakings.
The fast can go on, Anna can be opposed or appeased, the government can cry foul, the opposition can point out that the government is "morally bankrupt), but the reality of the matter is just this. The government is a product of society, and the recent events reflect its lack of communication with its roots. The lokpal might not hold all the answers, but it is the first significant step that the society not only needs but demands today. A reality that the Congress needs to realise, nay accept!
good 1..
ReplyDeleteAs i have mentioned earlier, the article is well construed and articulate but it doesnt evoke the sentiment of now. Vartman kaal. For the Present is tense.Here we arenot grappling with constitutional rights of a man going on a hunger strike or Jail bharo andolan.No one is challenging the democratic right of this messiah after all its been eight months.We are all been buried under the scams of corruption, understandable.Thats why we are all singing the same song for a strong Lokpal Bill.But the main concern is how do we go about in building strong building blocks of lokpal bill.How foolproof is the idea? We have BJP contesting for strong Lokpal bIll but not for strong Lokyukta Bill.We have CPI vehenmently asking for private sector to fall under the ambit of Lokpal bill which makes it fair.Everyone is rooting for a Lokpal Bill now.So everyone knows they want a strong body to check the clogged arteries of our society.When Pranab says he had engaged in the dialogue with the civil society and retained the three elements to what they discussed, what they promised so what do we do.We have no one even the media has not been specific about what to incorporate to make the body strong.Everyone is gargling about how weak it is and not the way it wanted it to.So what is the way? CBI is at the top of the head and what else, have a private court and what not.Here is Anna holding the government at ransom and pushing this bill as soon as possible.There is always a gestation period.In a democracy, discussions and conciliation take a sufficient amount of time which Team Anna didnt realise.Yahpe toh sabko Jaldi hai.Its sad.So what i missed to see in the article above the current state of mind of most people here. We all know how important is Lokpal but what we dont know is what version of Lokpal stands true to the agenda.The answer which even i am searching and is still searching.
ReplyDelete@anand- to a certain extent what you say is right, but the way the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha makes no sense, where most of the parties had walked out. Also, everybody has a different agenda, thus a different version of the bill. There has been no consensus, Mamta is ensuring the autonomy of the state powers, Anna wants one which is all inclusive, the congress passed on which is in keeping with its policies of marginal accommodation instead of a decisive clear bill and the BJP is stuck between the RSS and its own political agenda and aspirations. Thus, each version stands true based on where one is standing.
ReplyDeleteThe question of the CBI is a pertinent one. The civil society is asking to ensure that it is free of the state influence and comes under the Lokpal. This is in theory quite effective, as it would allow the CBI to function free of political influence (which it is suppose to do in the first place), and also allow the Lokpal to have an investigative body. The lokpal does not want judicial powers, that has never been the question.
As for Pranab babu, he unluckily has been reduced to a Congress mouth piece, who is trying to ride on his 'good politician' card, which is now diminishing with each day of this debate. His stand is not clear, and he fails to communicate how the bill has included the various governmental agencies, especially as the private has been encompassed completely.