As I write this post, the second indefinite fast to death has been started by Baba Ramdev Yoga guru and star of Aastha channel in his struggle against black money.Predictably there time around there is viewer fatigue as we just emerge from Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption took place in Jantar Mantar which was described by eager beaver journalists as India's Tahir Square moment and Anna Hazare as the next Mahatma.
Both eulogies are over exaggerations and India is a not a banana republic or run by despots like Murabarak or Saddam Hussein or Col. Gaddafi. I have read the Jan Lok Pal and it has some major naive assumptions and some cunning clauses to get permanent authority to civil society members without accountability. I doubt how many of us have really read the Jan lok pal draft before deciding to support Anna Hazare.
Points I disagree on the Jan Lok Pal Draft - full draft link
Fasting for complex nations issues is not going to solve issues as quickly as eating fast food.
Both eulogies are over exaggerations and India is a not a banana republic or run by despots like Murabarak or Saddam Hussein or Col. Gaddafi. I have read the Jan Lok Pal and it has some major naive assumptions and some cunning clauses to get permanent authority to civil society members without accountability. I doubt how many of us have really read the Jan lok pal draft before deciding to support Anna Hazare.
Points I disagree on the Jan Lok Pal Draft - full draft link
- Lokpal will collect 10% fine on each case of corruption detected and it goes to a Lok pal fund which will disbursed to improve Lokpal infrastructure - (undermine the financial/fiscal responsibility of the govt.)
- Selection committee to include all Nobel laureates of Indian origin - ( why should people like V.S Naipaul, Prof Venkat Ramkrishnan and Dr. Amartya Sen who have long left India to pursue own interests aboard be allowed to part of such a key decision making process)
- Selection committee to include Last 3 Magsaysay award winners - ( no surprises includeArvind Kejriwal, P. Sainath and Kiran Bedi amongst others)
- Lokpal be a super cop, quasi judiciary and even hand out sentences demean all the Indian institutions.
- Section 27 – Protection where the Lok Pal will have complete judicial immunity for acts of good faith - (such a naive assumption Lok pal will be above aboard in such a so called corrupt nation)
- Indian Constitution and institutions are so rotten that we need a new extra-constitutional body to be pointed by persons having external accreditation's from Nobel Prize and Magsaysay awards
- The assumption all our elected representatives are corrupt and Indian voters are not sensible enough to vote for the right candidate. Mr. Hazare said if he stood in an election he would lose his deposit
- His flip flops on Narendra Modi shows his lack of a consistent political view
- His left wing friends like Swami Agnivesh who is a known Maoist sympathizer and Medha Patkar a known anti dam/development activist who have agendas of their own
Points I disagree with Baba Ramdev List of Baba Ramdev's demands
The cure worse than the disease ??
I agree government has been losing credibility and instead of an constructive opposition which can take on the govt. the fringe voices like Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev and people like Arundhati Roy are getting even more footage and media space. My greatest fear is these misguided “civil society” members are wanting quick fixes and little accountability, and by targeting the political class institutions there are only creating anarchy in the nation.
- his bizarre demand to ban 500 and 1000 rupee notes, and to declare an ordinance on bringing back black money to India and promoting Hindi at the expense of English . With due respect he is no expert on economics.
- his clear right wing linkage with the RSS and people who were involved in the Ram janam bhoomi moment like Sadhvi Ritammbara
- He is still to come clean on his source of wealth, his private jets and 18 crore 5 star satyagraha at Ram lila maidan.
- her constant glorification of the Maoist moment knowing full well bloodshed is never a long term solution is mischievous and dangerous.
- her support to the Kashmiri separatist moment, in fact she seceded from the Indian republic and declared her self an independent mobile republic way back in 1998.
The cure worse than the disease ??
I agree government has been losing credibility and instead of an constructive opposition which can take on the govt. the fringe voices like Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev and people like Arundhati Roy are getting even more footage and media space. My greatest fear is these misguided “civil society” members are wanting quick fixes and little accountability, and by targeting the political class institutions there are only creating anarchy in the nation.
I agree there is rampant accountability issues with the political class but the ballet gives us the opportunity to make a change. Democracy is still the best way forward.You need to toil and work closely on the ground, Mamata Banerjee's example of her diligent efforts to end the 34 years of the Left rule. Off course time will decide Mamata's legacy but for a woman with no god fathers and no corruption charges on her as of now yet she represents to me a glimmer of hope and trust on Indian democracy.
I strongly feel before we run out and start chasing any leader proposing a quick fix to nation problems and using anarchy instead of working to strengthen the Indian democracy we must question their motives and tactics as much as we distrust the political class.
With all respect I invite the leaders of the civil society to engage the Indian voters directly and enter the political system to gain authority and accountability of all Indians.It may take 10-20 years not a 5 day media circus to affect real change.
I strongly feel before we run out and start chasing any leader proposing a quick fix to nation problems and using anarchy instead of working to strengthen the Indian democracy we must question their motives and tactics as much as we distrust the political class.
With all respect I invite the leaders of the civil society to engage the Indian voters directly and enter the political system to gain authority and accountability of all Indians.It may take 10-20 years not a 5 day media circus to affect real change.
Fasting for complex nations issues is not going to solve issues as quickly as eating fast food.
A very well researched and nicely written piece. I agree with you that their is no quick fix solution to the rot of corruption. I touched upon this topic in one of my postings http://mayank-nagar.blogspot.com/2009/04/one.html
ReplyDeleteBut, don't you think people like Anna & Baba are there because of lack of able leadership in India. When people see all parliamentarians failing them, they will obviously look for alternatives, and will be fascinated by the quick fix solutions offered. It's a catch-22 i guess.
@ Mayank - thanks for your comments as always. yes the present political class is not covering itself in glory and is having a credibility loss.
ReplyDeletebut instead of participating in the robust democratic process, I feel members of civil society are trying to exert influence and power without accountability.
if every tom dick and harry who has a problem with the govt. decides to fast at Jantar Mantar then why have a parliamentary process. Our political class have much to answer but we need to keep our institutions alive they have served us well.
Funny how you elevate Mamta Banerjee on one hand and denounce Medha Patkar and Arundhati Roy for being anti-development. If my memory serves, the former was an equally vocal Maoist sympathizer who summarily threw the Tatas out of West Bengal. And now surprise surprise! She wants them to come back and develop W Bengal.
ReplyDeleteAnna Hazare's disenchantment with the democratic process in India is reflected in how most middle class Indians feel. And it took an old man like him to fast to awaken a slumbering nation that sat in its living room and gasped and ranted about corruption of the magnitude of CWG and 2G scam and was on the verge of forgetting about it after a glorious world cup victory. Public memory is like that of a gold fish: it lasts all of 5s and we have become immune to the shock value of corruption. The Anna Hazare version of the Lok Pal, flawed as it may be is at least a sliver of hope that we have some say left in a government that has been bilking the nation beyond what the British and Muslim invaders ever did. Well at least they did not pretend like it was for our own good!
Kirthi
Good effort Ganesh....the devil is always in the detail and one always felt unconfortable on day 1 when the civil society declared that lend us your support we will get into all details (of the draft bill) later...Though one can loud the effort of Anna Hazare on the basis that he is trying to hold govt accountable which is running amok coz there is no credit worthy opposition (so the current problem is lack of good opposition and not democracy or political system).
ReplyDeleteAlso its funny how the people run on streets and pile up all the blame of corruption on politicians when everyone knows whre it starts (its us)....just a few days back there were reports that JEE, medical exams and other compititive exam toppers lend their names to multiple institutes for money with due permission from parents....come on these are the morales we are imbibing into the the bright minds of morrow....what else are they gonna do when the become accountable members of this society...
@ kirthi - i have mentioned that the lack of political credibility has lead to the anger in the great Indian middle class but following leaders like anna hazare or baba ramdev who dont have thier agendas clear enough is dangerous. regarding Bengal it is known in many circles the political might of the left front and Mamata Banerjee has worked many years to achieve her political victory but the civil society wants to sensationalize every thing. comparing the police action to Jalianwala Baugh and Tahir Square
ReplyDelete@abhijeet - its fashionable to criticize the govt. for everything. bollywood stars will talk about corruption but still not declare jewellery in customs. Ms Arundhati Roy' husband is facing a case of buying agricultural land for developing real estate.
corporates and tax evaders preach to the world. why does a Baba need a private jet and island in Scotland
Gans, most of this post talks about having a robust democratic system.
ReplyDeleteMay I know how we are going to achieve that? and most importantly WHEN ?
All the laws and legislature, rules and regulations were bent long back and the entire country is currently running on loopholes and exception clauses from these laws.
I know there are no quick fixes but a 70 year old chap is fasting not for publicity, nah !
Believe me when we say adhering to Lokpal will challenge democracy, why in the first place we come to point wherein we need a third eye to monitor the progress? If you see Western countries, they have these non commercial organisations who have a voice in the government. Can we not have a similar one in India? Lokpal won't be a non commercial one but most of the non commercial organisations in India remain unnoticed and they have no or very little influence over government.
I think our country has seen enough. If you see Anna's agenda, after corruption he is going to look after fixing the electoral system. So, he is going step by step here. And it took him and so many people to starve for our government to amend the bill. Seriously man, yahaan baatonse kaam nahi banataa ab !
I personally disagree with few points about Anna, Ramdev and their bill details too, but I support their movement.
Consider the next 24 hours of your time and just check if you had ever thanked the govt (central or local) for any of the thing surrounding to you. The answer will come as a strong NO.
Believe it or not, our democracy has failed terribly, our country has been exploited, the future of next generation is totally uncertain and is anything but pleasant.
We are in a deep sh*t. (Please don't mind my language)
There are no quick fixes, but there is a quick action and that's what Anna is taking.
Let's support him.
@ Sandeep - If you see the demands for Lok pal it requires an investigative wing and office bearers again this people have to be drawn up from the existing bureaucracy and police force so why they will be different.
ReplyDeletesecond point - why is Anna and co against elections and think that people would not support them in an election
third point - if every group decided to go on streets for every demand then our democracy will collapse.
fourth point - we have so many freedoms in our country and opporutinies and corruption is an inherent cultural thing. for all talk of this why do people slip a 100 rupee note to a traffic havaldar or pay a railway TC to jump ahead in the waiting list.
even for that matter download mp3s for free. but still cry coarse about corruption. why stay at home during election day.
Gans, we haven't implemented it yet so it's hard to be sure whether it will work or not.
ReplyDeleteI am sure Anna and his team have worked out a (kindof) work-able solution to control this chain of corruption. I am personally against in bringing the PMO under this as it might turn out to be a witch-hunt for him.
None in the country has any high regards towards any neta in our country. If at all they have, it's out of fear, personal benefit or money. The past and the existing politicians have assured us how dirty the job can be and what level they can go to. If anna and co join politics, they will be seen at the same level by the people and most importantly (the angry and agitated) youths. A similar reaction when Ramdev declared to join Politics. Plus, our great media highlights such an action in as negative way as possible. All of this has an impact. Team Anna will definitely loose credibility and support which they are getting now. And their current actions are definitely not against democracy. they are making their point in a very peaceful and as legal way as possible. Their team seems to be quite qualified who have a quite strong approach towards Lokpal. I do not see people supporting them blindly (some may do so but not all). The other highlighting point in this is, everything will be transparent process. Something that this country wants, in fact our country deserves it.
On your third point, it is currently happening. Every group is actually oing onto streets for every demand they have. Think about any state and the cities in those, such protests are happening. I remember seeing a "dharna" or fast in front of TMC almost every time I crossed it. But, there is a difference, mate. These demands are for a group of people and for their own benefits. They are not really thinking from country point of view.
A friend of mine says, he is supporting the movement but whenever he goes to India, all he does is bribing the babus to get his work done. As his trip is always short and he does not want to 'waste' his time following a 'process'. Actually, this process is all set by babus who all hold the highest degree, may be SuperPhD, in Corruption. The actual process on cards is different and it's conveniently bent to suit their needs. And that's because the babus don't fear from being corrupt. The system that's on cards is hardly a process and is anything but transparent. There are ways to make such systems more productive and efficient (online is one way, like in case of train tickets etc.) and moreover there needs an Ankush on these babus. I am not talking here about those who are ready to bribe such cheap babus, but those who aren't and forced to, just to get their work done. The movement is to take care of these people.
Downloading mp3s, downloading movies is illegal. It's hard to bring them under the umbrella of our current discussion which deals with the movement against corruption. But on that note, I had volunteered for an organisation called IFPI who keep a check on such sites that allow the download. This also can be achieved by means of cyber laws but I think it's too early to expect from our country. Again in this case, the suffreres (like the music industries) need to make a collective action to stop such illelgal acts, however when will it happen is only time can tell.
Similarly, it's not worthy to talk about those who prefer staying home on election day and cringe about corruption. As I said, this movement is for those who vote for an election, and get nothing in hand except disappointment.
This is the time to unite people and not divide them.
The discussions can go on and on. But, I believe this movement is far greater than personal opinions. As R. Madhvan says in RDB, 'koibhi country perfect nahi hota, use perfect banana padta hai.'
This is our chance, lets consider it to be the only one and take it.
p.s:
ReplyDelete1) Every time I use the word 'movement', I felt like I am glorifying the scenario. However, such is not an intention. This is all because of a vocab from a vernacular student.
2) Your post and reply has given me a chance to organise my thoughts and put them into words for which personal and dil-se thanks.
@ sandy - thanks for your time and your thoughts. i agree currently there is a loss of credibility in the executive today. but we shouldnt junk all the credible institutions at once.
ReplyDeletein a long time, we see a raja, kalmadi and kanimohzi are in jail. what that means is if there is political will current laws can bring people to book.
i only wish the civil society engages with the govt. and tries to collaborate effectively, instead of emotional blackmail, grandstanding and playing to people' s anger.
just as both of us are having a civil discussion lets hope something comes good out of lokpal bill.
but we also need to change as a society and transform internally, and not depend only on tough laws to control us.
can't read your post, the text isn't formatted correctly. Can you fix, please?
ReplyDelete@ Anon - I don't know if you will stop by again. Fixed the formatting now ! Thanks
ReplyDelete