Anna Hazare, the Icon of Gen Y
AFTER long long times I feel pride in being Indian. I had lost faith in India's youth. I was a witness and participant in Sampoorna Kranti of Late Sh. Jai Prakash Narayan (popularly known as JP Movement). But the results of the movement were frittered away as we trusted the unscrupulous politicians. But, today's youth has people like Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal, Justice Hegde etc., who have shown the light under the overall leadership of Gandhian Anna Hazare.
Even the timing of the movement is perfectly right. The government wants to introduce a toothless, clawless Lokpal bill to be made into a law. The civil society, led by the above mentioned people of integrity have proposed a Lan Lokpal Bill. About a month ago IE had carried the comparison between the two. Kejriwal has detailed the issue in April, 2011 issue of Yojana. Almost whole of media, one way or the other has highlighted the debate between the two bills. Even the opponents of Jan Lokpal bill have not much to say against it.
THE two Gs of Congress, i.e. ManmohanG and SoniaG are silent. But the spokespersons of Congress are either asking Anna to talk to Government or are criticising the movement for its timing. Some has charged the bill as unconstitutional (the height of sychophancy is yet to be reached).
After all, what is Anna Hazare demanding? Just say in the formulation of the bill through a committee that should include people both from government and civil society. He is not demanding the passage of Jan Lokpal bill. But even this demand is not acceptable to the government because no such procedure exist. This is a weak argument. Precedences have to be created. There are some weakness in the proposed Jan Lokpal bill but that should be no hindrance. The bill can be modified through negotiations. But the government wants that suggestions should be submitted to it and the government will look into the feasibility of these being accepted.
THE opposition parties claim to support Jan Lokpal bill but they have shown no initiative. If NDA wants to take advantage of peoples' sentiment and is genuinely interested the bill to be passed, it should bring such Acts in the states ruled by it. Otherwise, it will be betrayal of democracy by all political parties.
History shows us that whenever the youth of a country have woken up for a cause, the polity has to bow. The people in power will serve themselves if they understand it.
Even the timing of the movement is perfectly right. The government wants to introduce a toothless, clawless Lokpal bill to be made into a law. The civil society, led by the above mentioned people of integrity have proposed a Lan Lokpal Bill. About a month ago IE had carried the comparison between the two. Kejriwal has detailed the issue in April, 2011 issue of Yojana. Almost whole of media, one way or the other has highlighted the debate between the two bills. Even the opponents of Jan Lokpal bill have not much to say against it.
THE two Gs of Congress, i.e. ManmohanG and SoniaG are silent. But the spokespersons of Congress are either asking Anna to talk to Government or are criticising the movement for its timing. Some has charged the bill as unconstitutional (the height of sychophancy is yet to be reached).
After all, what is Anna Hazare demanding? Just say in the formulation of the bill through a committee that should include people both from government and civil society. He is not demanding the passage of Jan Lokpal bill. But even this demand is not acceptable to the government because no such procedure exist. This is a weak argument. Precedences have to be created. There are some weakness in the proposed Jan Lokpal bill but that should be no hindrance. The bill can be modified through negotiations. But the government wants that suggestions should be submitted to it and the government will look into the feasibility of these being accepted.
THE opposition parties claim to support Jan Lokpal bill but they have shown no initiative. If NDA wants to take advantage of peoples' sentiment and is genuinely interested the bill to be passed, it should bring such Acts in the states ruled by it. Otherwise, it will be betrayal of democracy by all political parties.
History shows us that whenever the youth of a country have woken up for a cause, the polity has to bow. The people in power will serve themselves if they understand it.
Sir, whenever a bill is introduced in parliament, DRSC are the places where the appropriate discussion with the civil society can take place. Why need to create a new institution just for the sake of it? Even before that NAC forum is available to discuss the draft of the bill.
ReplyDeleteAnnaji should focus on triggering a debate on the bill, rather than demanding a unconstitutional institution, akin to parallel government.
Dear Abhishek
ReplyDeleteWhen the democratic system is totaly on the verge of collapse under the weight of the nexus between politician-mafia-bureaucrat, it is high time that civil society should tell politicians what is good for us. The step is only a beginning to be followed by electoral reforms, administrative reforms, judicial reforms etc. Anna has shown us what the student community and the middle class of the country are capable of.