Views on - Lage Raho Anna Bhai (Carry on Anna)

Image Courtesy: http://www.newsofdelhi.com/its-weird/lage-raho-anna-bahi 

Let me provide you a short description of events first:

Lokpal bill (ombudsman or anti-corruption bill) was first introduced by Mr. Shanti Bhushan, who was the Law Minister in Morarji Desai Government, in 1968. It was passed in Lok Sabha, but did not pass through Rajya Sabha. Subsequent versions have been introduced in Parliament nine times since then, but have never passed. For all these years the social activists repeatedly approached the respective central governments for working this out, however, it seemed like their voice landed on deaf ears. Events suddenly started unfolding from 5^th of April 2011, when Anna Hazare, one of the social activists of ‘India Against Corruption’, sat on fast unto death at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding for the formation of joint committee of parliament for Lokpal bill. This was supported by many social workers, including some star-activists like- Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal, Medha Patkar and so on. Nation-wide media and Bollywood celebrities, religious leaders and many intellectuals started joining in and the campaign spread across India like a fire within few days. With strong support of Indian-middle class, the campaign succeeded and the UPA government agreed to have a joint bill-drafting committee (Five representatives of Government and civil society, respectively). This ‘joint- committee’ experiment failed. And now we have two different drafts- one of government and another of team Anna. The government wants to move forward to put its version of the bill in parliament. This has resulted in a second large-scale protest, another indefinite fast by Anna. Anna and team want their bill to be introduced and passed in the parliament.

The country is mainly divided into two camps (ignoring the third camp which is not much aware, likely to be in majority though):

Supporters use some (or all) of arguments:

· The government is deaf. This is the only non-violent way to make it act.

· Imagine, if Anna had not done it, we would have people like Sharad Pawar (icons of corruption) drafting the bill.

· This may not end corruption, but it surely is a way forward.

· We strongly support Anna, because the ruling class is nothing but ‘Chor’.

· Who knows if we will ever have such opportunity to fight corruption in future? Now is the time. The government is on the back-foot. If we continue pressure on it, we shall succeed.

Those who oppose use some (or all) of these arguments:

· Anna is blackmailing government by threatening large-scale campaigns. It's like saying "my way or the high way".

· Anna has done his job; enough of this stubbornness.

· We don't see how it will reduce corruption, as Lokpal will be the product of this corrupt-system only. We are not going to have any angles coming from heaven to India to serve as ‘Lokpal’.

· People are foolishly being emotional and calling it ‘second freedom movement’. There have been many such campaigns in the past on various issues. Nothing happens in the end, why waste time and energy of the country?

· It is hard to believe this group of activists is fighting for any national cause, like anti-corruption. They must be having their some kind of hidden agenda. (The conspiracy theory may go to any extend).

o The Congress government was going to have huge trouble over 2G & CWG scams. So, this was their grand plan to divert national attention. Once they tackle those issues, the Anna’s issue will be dramatically resolved. Don’t you see, Sonia Gandhi disappeared right before this???

o Anna has strong backing of right-wing people. This is BJP and RSS’s mega plan to bring NDA to power. Don’t you see how BJP is supporting Anna?

It is important to mention that the government's foolish actions (like detention of Anna & team) have triggered a mood swing in favour of the Anna's group in last couple of days for sure. Today, the public opinion is clearly against the government on anti-corruption issue.

My take of all these:

Both views have some element of truth. Of course, the current UPA government has completely lost its mind and seems clueless and completely disconnected from the masses. Detention of Anna was clearly a suicidal step for it. It seems like, it will emerge as the biggest looser. However, the demands by Anna & team are farfetched. I believe Anna and team have impeccable record of honesty and social-work, but I don't think they are the only competent people for drafting an anti-corruption bill. There are undoubtedly more dedicated and highly qualified Indians out there for this work. Who gave team Anna the authority to say that they represent civil society of India? Their supporters are mainly upper & middle class urban Indians. The number may go to few millions at the most, but India is a country of 1.2Billion. Can anyone with a million supporters draft a bill? Is India going to form its laws based on popularity??? What they are now doing is indeed like - 'my way or high-way'. I agree with them that their bill should be discussed in the parliament. But, I disagree when they say that their version of bill must be passed. The parliament can discuss both bills and revise bills as per requirement. It represents the people of India and gains its power from the constitution. All Indians must respect the parliament. You can oppose and criticize government(s) or political parties, but you cannot challenge Indian democratic establishment and constitution.

Nonetheless, I would thank Anna and team for mainly two reasons:

· They have generated a much needed nation-wide discourse over anti-corruption. This has surely awakened not only the middle-class urban citizens, but the Indian-politicians as well. All governments must acknowledge and value the aspirations of common-people. Their actions ought to be sincere. These protests should strengthen our democracy in-general.

· A minority of people, whose voice was undermined for so long, who always lived a life with complete integrity and honesty, whom others called ‘misfits in today’s times’, who refused to compromise on ethics for having few rupees more, had finally found some resonance on national media because of this anti-corruption movement. Now, these people, who otherwise lived in pockets of society in isolation, are synergizing and uniting and are raising their voice louder and louder. This is a big achievement of Anna & team.

Finally, let me answer all those who compare Anna to Gandhi. Gandhi fasted for his people and never against the British. He wanted his people to become better human beings. I don’t have to repeat what Anna is doing. If Gandhi would have been fighting corruption, he would have said, “I will fast until all my people stop corrupt-behaviour”. The idea is – “There is something wrong in my leadership that makes my people use unlawful means. Hence, I must suffer in order to become a purer leader”. Being Gandhi is difficult indeed. In stead of comparing them, let's value their respective roles.

Bottom line: I will support the movement as long as it does not attempt to overrule the Parliament (understand difference between parliament & government). If you cross the line, I shall protest against your protest to protect the democracy of my country.

· *** To all readers,
I would like to confess my mistake for one misinformation. After doing some research, I realized that the team-Anna never said that they represent the "civil society". It was the government which has tagged them as "civil society representatives".

Now, as the events are unfolding, it is very clear that the team-Anna has no intention of undermining the parliament. Their objective is simply the passage of a strong anti-corruption bill. It is important to note that they had exercised almost every alternate possible. "Indefinite fast" was their last option, which is in effect. They have shown some flexibility for having minor changes as per government's request, without compromising the core elements of the draft that form a strong bill.

You may like to read my previous article (when team-Anna campaigned for joint drafting committee): http://globiansperspective.blogspot.com/2011/04/changing-orientation-of-middle-90-to_08.html

I welcome your comments....