The mood of the entire country seems to have changed drastically in the last couple of days with Mr. Kisan Baburao Hazare (popularly known as Anna Hazare, where Anna means "Elder Brother") and his supporters taking on the juggernaut that is the Central Government of India.
Regarding Anna Hazare and his so called India Against Corruption movement, I am not a supporter of it. The word "Mass Hysteria" that can be used as appropriate to describe all the happenings in this "movement" since April.
Anna Hazare's demands for the passing of the Jan Lokpal bill or the Lokpal bill, a corruption watchdog with legal superpowers to arrest, prosecute and imprison every corrupt official in the country would obviously lead him into a collision course with the government. Mr. Hazare demands that the Lokpal should be empowered to nab anyone and everyone who is accused to be corrupt right down from yours truly up to the Prime Minister of India has sent shivers down the spines of the power houses in New Delhi (and yet our previous theory that politicians were spineless creatures has lay to the dust!)
Duplicating the Police Forces, Investigating Agencies and other agencies which already exist in some other form would be a futile exercise in tackling corruption as there would be issues arising as to which case should be tried in which agency (the existing one or the newly formed Lokpal system), issues regarding jurisdiction of the respective systems and issues arising out of issues raised by the competing agencies regarding what sort of exact power do they have the right to exercise.
Anna Hazare has obviously found great support and admiration among the masses, especially the middle class who is routinely plagued by corruption in many and most government offices. Mr. Hazare has decided to adopt the nonviolent "fast unto death" satyagraha against the government to force them into signing the bill with conditions as laid down by himself and his team of civil society activists.
I call this "CopyCat Gandhism".
I have tremendous respect for Mohandas Gandhi and most of his principles but I have always thought that the so called "fast unto death" threats known as satyagraha was and is a form of blackmail. The reason it has been glorified is that it was the tool that enabled Mr. Gandhi to boot the British peacefully from India. In his "special case" the ends justified the means but it also had the residual effect of giving people a new method in which to blackmail the government into giving into their demands. This method is being used by Mr. Hazare today. And No, I do not consider this movement of Mr. Hazare as a "special case".
Although the media is to be thanked for exposing many scandals in recent times and getting the involved people prosecuted and arrested, it has turned into a populist tool to forward the momentum in this "India Against Corruption" movement. I must admit that I have re-started watching Indian news channels somewhat after a lull of almost 3-4 years on a somewhat regular basis due to this "media activism". I must say that the debates that many news channels (notable mentions: TIMES NOW and NDTV 24x7) broadcast in the Prime Time slots are good but at the same time they are structured so as to portray a heavy bias towards Mr. Hazare's movement. The debates on the Lokpal have members from the Congress and the BJP which is understandable as they are the two largest parties. Then you have someone like Anupam Kher and Kiran Bedi who have taken up key roles in this "movement" and some other members of fringe parties and what I like to call "Fringe Society" (includes people like film stars etc. who hardly have to deal with corruption. Their presence is only to add glitter value).
Once this debate gets going you find that only the member of the Congress party is opposing the Lokpal bill and all the others in one way or the other support it (including the fellow of BJP-NDA who mostly agrees on everything Lokpal). This inevitably makes the ruling party member look like the bad guy and the government completely corrupt and what not. These debates never have anyone from the smaller parties, "Fringe Society" and other members of civil society who oppose the Lokpal bill.
This amounts to classic media bias in favour of populism which is once again a blot on the so called "independent media". The Indian constitution clearly states that while the majority wins principle is applicable in a democracy, it is the duty of the democratic system (the system includes everyone from the government, and other public institutions and some private institutions like the media etc.) to listen, understand, tolerate and protect the views of the minority points of view. This principle is being clearly violated here.
Coercing the government is not a good idea neither is it democratic. Just because Mr. Gandhi did it does not make it right. Napoleon, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Idi Amin were considered heroes at the time when they came to power bolstered by "Mass Hysteria". But we all know the end result of what happened in each case. While, it would not be correct to compare Mr. Hazare to either of these villains, it should be noted as a matter of principle and in the long term interests of the nation that this "movement" be taken with a pinch of salt and be properly understood by anyone and everyone who intends to be involved in it before raising any war cries.
A good start for everyone would be to read the Constitution of India.
Think About It.
Mitul Choksi
Ahmedabad, Republic of India
August 17, 2011
1 comment:
First of all I am glad to found someone Pro Jan Lokpal bill. Now in addition to your arguments which almost seems valid in my eyes, I have few more salient points which clearly justifies this article.
First of all what is the guarantee that the people in the so called committee of this Jan Lokpal bill would not be corrupted, not now, then in future. Because there no sense to believe that the a corruption watchdogs would really be the watch dog for corruption. Because people who are going to be appointed for these shall all be from and among us. Secondly, If it is to be believed that these appointed people should not be corrupted, then why cant these people be recruited directly to the current system. Because if anyone has forgotten, let me remind you we already have the anti corruption system (which is already corrupted). So rather than forming the whole system it is wise to just reform it.
About the support of Political parties (specially BJP), its just because the Congress is on the Seat, BJP supports the Jan Lokpal bill or the Lokpal bill. But it is to be know that if BJP was on the seat and at that time Anna has started protesting then Congress must have supported Anna and BJP by all means would have been thrown Anna behind the bars.
About the support from Narendra Modi in person, everyone knows he is Anti-Congress and don't want to lose any chance to kick Congress or deeds by Congress. So, his support is his own interest.
Lastly, Mr. Hazare is above 70 now, and its know to everyone that India is corrupted for almost post independence. So my question is where were he till date???
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