Before you read further, here are some assumptions I want you to discard:
1. I am anti-Anna.
2. I am pro-corruption.
3. I am pro-congress.
4. I am for the government version of Lokpal.
5. I am against the people right to protest peacefully.
At the onset, let me re-affirm that I am NOT anti Anna, anti Kejriwal, anti Kiran Bedi or against any soul that forms part of team Anna. I don’t doubt his character, intention or his noble thoughts. It’s an irony that the bunch of congress big-mouthed toadies aka congress spokespersons are trying to vilify his campaign.
I am also FOR corruption to end in this India at the earliest. After all, who faces the brunt of corruption more than common middle-class person like yours truly? If the beast of corruption is not tamed in time, I don’t see India prospering further. When I say I don’t support Anna’s Jan Lokpal movement, I would insist even with more ferocity that I condemn the version proposed by the government. It’s a toothless tiger to say the least.
It’s a very over-whelming site to see that vast majority of people coming out on roads in support of Anna's movement to fight corruption. It’s even more commendable that they have maintained the peace and decorum while resisting the tough hand of the government. This very gesture of the people, by the people, for the people indicates that democracy doesn’t just exists but is in fact thriving in our country.
So, what’s the point of contention?
Firstly, I don't believe the means that Anna is following are best suited in the democratic setup that we have in our country. People do compare it with the peaceful satyagrahas during the days of freedom struggle; but I don’t second that analogy. For back then, we were resisting the oppressive and tyrannical rule of an imperialist empire that had stifled the rights of the masses. We do have avenues for grievance redressal and what Anna is doing isn’t actual the right approach. Conceding to any such demand against parliamentary processes, would set a dangerous trend. The protestors' demand to "sidestep" the constitutional process can very well be a threat to democracy. In fact, the very fact that Team Anna is fighting the government means we are opposing the very own masses who have "voted" them to power in first place.
Furthermore, Creation of an all-powerful Jan Lokpal will be like unleashing a demon. We have had institutions in our constitutional setup viz. the CVC, CAC, CBI which were meant to be sacrosanct and should have been functioning without any malice. Its pains me to see their plight these days. It is very well known “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" and I would not be surprised that if the Jan Lokpal succumbs to the same plight.
Many people argue that the JLP will be driven by the masses, the so called "civil-society". But I question "who is the civil-society?” I don’t have an iota of doubt about the honesty of the people in the drafting committee of the JLP and I don't wish to raise any doubt regarding their character. But I question their authority and who has imparted that to them? Certainly, I haven’t and definitely neither has you or any of the billions of people dotting the expanse of this vast land. These days we are ready to lay our future in the hands of these people who were virtually unknown to us few days back.
One of the root causes of proliferation of corruption in India is the beauracratic red-tapism that exists and the tedious judicial procedure that exists. We need to streamline the processes rather than just add to the clutter. With JLP, we are going to give rise to yet another legislative white-elephant. It’s been claimed that the Supreme Court can take punitive action against the JLP in case of misdoings. With the provision of Jan Lokpal being able to be contested in the Supreme Court, most of the cases are definitely going to land up knocking at its door. The intention of speeding up would fail when the JLP becomes another halt in the current scheme of things. If you want to speed up justice delivery then we need overhaul the judiciary and not start a virtual court manned by the civilians (ala khaap panchayat).
We have enough of these institutions to keep a tab on the malpractices. These are not under the purview of the government in the sense that the government can’t interfere into its functioning. Yes, the government does nominate its chief; so what is needed is to make that process transparent. What we want is to make them accountable and efficient, rather than adding one more to it. By keeping them under legislative checks(and thus under the people) one can keep a tab on them.
Finally and most importantly, Crowds don't lend legitimacy to any cause. For the howsoever big pool of humanity might come out to support Anna's fight, it doesn’t need a rocket scientist to tell you that, it’s just a speck as compared to the number of people who comes out on the day of election to vote. This JLP movement may look big to us middle class, but I am sure it hasn't percolated to every stratum (esp. the deprived) of society. Thus, the right way to bring about the change is NOT by exercising the fundamental right to protest, but by exercising the FUNDAMENTAL DUTY of electing the right candidate. The cynics claim that elections are rigged and the votes are bought out. I don’t contest that thought, but then if a revolution and mobilization of people is needed, then it’s needed in this case. We need to elect the right candidate and the rest will follow suit.
It’s not unpractical for Anna's team to meet the ends that they are fighting for, via legislative means. I don’t see why the very person who has instigated the aggrieved masses to revolt against the single big enemy of corruption, cannot transform that support into votes. Probably our attitude of cynicism and apathy towards elections should be done away with. Some recent state election results are showing positive trends and what is needed it to up the ante during the forthcoming elections. The corrupt and the communal candidates are been shown the door while the development oriented candidates have been posting thumping victories. Together we can always elect good uncorrupt people to the seats of power. If team Anna and people of his caliber do follow the democratic ways (contest the elections) of bringing about the change, then I don’t see why "the people of India" won’t get enough to feed upon ... leave aside anyone "fasting" for such cause..
