These days I am fed up with the requests I am getting to join candle light marches, support requests for Anna Hazare and his so called movement (some over zealous people went to extent of calling it an uprising, drawing parallels to Egyptian and other banana republics movements). I once posted a status message which tangentially supports corruption (it was a word from RGV), that’s it I was blasted among my colleagues that I am supporting corruption. Now I decided to jot down my views on Anna Movement
Frankly speaking, I don’t trust Anna Hazare’s methods and didn’t subscribe to his philosophy, simply I wouldn’t be bothered by these SMS s, forwards, Govt”s rigidity, his stubborn attitude. Lemme guess what is going to happen. This drama will go on for some days, the government will agree to let Anna to go for his fast ( I think it already happened ) after some time some anti social or anti national elements will permeate into his camp, or else the government itself will place some coverts, ( remember the allegations of American involvement behind Anna reports in media and subsequent denials from American consulate) then under the pretext of Anna’s Security against threat to his life, or govt will thwart his fast by offering a discussion in parliament (after a two or three weeks, fast weary Anna will readily agree with it, or his supporters will make him agree with it because as it is said by Bipin Chandra, mass movements cannot be prolonged for long) . After the discussion the parliament may decide that inclusion of prime minister is not possible, and the cycle continues.
Had I been a part of government,
I would not have talked rubbish on Anna as they are doing right now, but certainly I will not agree to include prime minister in the ambit of Lokpal. Prime minister is not a joke; practically, he is executive head of the whole country. The majority of the parliamentarians elected by whole country elect the PM to guide the country into its future. We cannot keep him strangled in hands of single non elected person.
My point is, first Lokpal has to be formed, its functioning is to be observed, the person who occupied the seat has to be checked for his functioning, then it is to be decided whether he has to be given wide powers or not. Any system has to be checked in a trial and error method. In Andhra Pradesh N T Rama Rao established a similar system under the name of “ Dharma Mahamatra” it later on merged with Lokayuktha, we have seen the functioning of Lokayuktha in AP ( Karnataka Lakayuktha is apparently better because Santosh Hegde is at least barking ) there scale of scams are meteorically rising despite the presence of lokayuktha. Can any body guarantee the effective functioning of Lokpal. Then what for this halla is.
Our system gives utmost importance to Judiciary, people wont consider judges as normal human beings, Sub-judice matters will not be discussed out side the court ( under the pretext that judges may get influenced) judiciary has lot of other protections like, contempt of court , executive cannot challenge judiciary, even legislature also cannot overlook judiciary in some matters . Judiciary can comment on any religious issue, they often teach morals to religious leaders, give knee-jerk statements such as “all encounter specialists had to be hanged to death”. But no body can challenge them, this is the protection given to judiciary by our system. But are all judges are have undoubted integrity? (I doubt I may have to go to jail if some judge read my blog) there are some allegations, I have to quote them, for instance, Justice Soumitra Sen , and Justice Dinakaran ( I think one Bhushan among the supporters of Anna alleged that half of the supreme court bar are corrupt). I cannot judge their integrity, but I feel that judiciary is not in the state as it ought to be. Frankly speaking, there appears a degradation of values across all the segments of society. The future Lokpal also will not be formed from divine entities, it is to be selected form the same society which is being blamed for being corrupt. At the inception of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), no body would have imagined that in future CBI would conduct an enquiry on ACB officials. Nobody might not have imagined that CBI will become as Congress Bureau of Investigation, or Congress Bachaco Investigation (as alleged by Sushma Swaraj ). I read some where that Intelligence Bureau is once called as Indira Bureau (due to her misuse of it on her political opponents). Had every body in the system delivers properly, even a police constable level person can prevent corruption.
Even a brand new car will be test drived at 40-50 speed despite of assurances of the company about the brake efficiency and gear efficiency at even 120 speeds. The new guard of an apartment will not be given licensed revolver instantly but, instead, will be tested giving a lathi first for his efficiency. Many of the development programs of government will be piloted in 60-70 districts for their results and then it is implemented nation wide. Every legislation, program, even the constitution is tested on a small scale, errors are rectified, rules are amended practical difficulties are solved. In the same way, Lokpal has to be tested and if proved efficient, then it should be given wider powers, or else it will be a Frankenstein Monster. The extent to which the powers have to given is to be decided by debate and discussions. The stubbornness that everybody should subscribe to my philosophy, and who don’t fall in line are corrupt is plain arrogance and lack of respect for democracy. Diversity of opinion and tolerance are essence of democracy.
Our constitutional makers made a balance of all the three systems i.e. legislature, executive and judiciary. Legislature will face the litmus test of public every five years (sort of approval from public in form of elections), the executive comprising of efficient administrators (?), who don’t need the periodical endorsement from public as in the politicians case, the judiciary to check whether the other arms are acting constitutionally. Distribution of powers were designed is such a way that they cant ignore each other in performing their duties. A system of checks and balances were inherent in the constitution. Even the sacrosanct constitution will be prone to amendment if the majority public feels so. These so called crusaders against corruption are arguing to create a super power above all these systems as if they are only intellectuals in the country. What would be the recourse if this Lokpal system itself becomes corrupt?
In my opinion there should be a counter force to every thing, day-night, male-female, reason-emotion, and fire-water all are complimentary to each other and gives completeness to each other. Even the welfare capitalism needs a union. If any one among them doesn’t have check of other, it will be misused. When the discussion of lack of unions in IT sector and SEZs among my software friends came, they blasted me that these communist slogans will stop the growth of sector and despite of unions, they are getting cabs, office sponsored dinners, weekends etc etc , but then recession came and managements went on pink slip spree, that to for silly reasons like improper parking of vehicle, they were fired within minutes , threatened for voluntary resignations by beholding their certificates etc. Because of these antics many people suffered financial and psychological torture; they were dumped as rotten potatoes. If projects were not there, it is the fault of marketing people, not that of engineers. If they don’t have need of people, why they have recruited them? Kept on bench? And suddenly fired? The management has to be fired for mis-planning.
If I appear that I am supporting communism, I’m sorry, I dint mean it, I don’t believe in working class anarchy propounded by Marx as well. I am not an idealist (these idealist breed is the one supporting the Jan Lokpal) but what happened in reality, the workers governments elsewhere in Soviet Russia, Polpot regime in Cambodia are as heinous as non communist dictators. Their fellow workers were shot for political opposition. In India also it is proved that Ex-communists are the worst capitalists.
There should be a strong opposition against government, there should be strong civil society against executive hegemony, strong human rights commissions against police atrocities, then only they above said systems will be a responsible ones, or else power without strings will make the powerful myopic.
I feel that there is a dictator hiding in every one of us , everybody want to be a dictator once in their lifetime, I’ve heard from many people saying “ these #$%^&* will not understand if it explained patiently , they should be taught to obey rules at gun point only”, but in our own view for ourselves , we all are benevolent dictators, the ideas goes like “ if were given power, I will throw all the beggars into jail, deflate vehicles of traffic violators, will hang kidnappers, will make the rape convicts impotent for rape, will suspend late comers to office, will make the wealthy politicians to till the land@ ( believe me I’ve listened even worse judgmental fellows). The reason behind supporting Lokpal is this psychology only. But we tend to ignore the fact that even the beggar had the same right to power, he may be vying for power to hang all the people who won’t give alms.
There re different view points to evry issue, we cant guarantee that every man would be correct in evry aspect. Then is it wise to keep unbridled power in a single hand? If the Jan lokpal is passed as it is, then he can command evrybody. Take the recent Lakayuktha episode in Karnataka, Yeddyyurappa resigned because of stubbornness of Santosh Hegde, but the same Lokayuktha is numb in the neighbouring AP, also there is no guarantee that Santosh Hegde’s Succesor would be this dynamic and successful. See the example of T N Seshan, he proved hiw powerful a election can be, but then dillution of Election Commision followed by system of three commisioners , the result is Navin Chawla, who is supposedly close to congress but, there is no check on him , the answer for whether Yeddyurappa will be convicted and put behind bars is an obvious one.
There is legend ( once told in Polity class of Vaziram) , that once there was tiff between horse and deer, then this horse came to man and asked him to hunt down the deer, man expressed his helplessness as he cannot match the speed of deer, horse then offered its back to man to make him match to speed of deer and man hunted the deer. But when the horse asked the man to get down from his back man refused to do so as he found the comfort of horse riide, this horse became permanent slave for man.
If we horses bear Lokpal to hunt down corruption and what happens if in the process gets enslaved by the same Lokpal?
Don’t convince me that Anna would be made lokpal and he is very noble, power is intoxicant in nature, we are yet to see true colours of him when he is in power. He may attain dictatorial tendencies once he reaches echelons of power ( of course power without checks). There are live examples in our own backyard, where Army generals took power under pretext of ousting corrupt government and with the help of popular discontent later beacame worst dictators. These dictators will make people feel that previous corrupt governments are better. This is the same story everywhere, Pak, Bangladesh, Latin America, Central Asia….even if Anna is noble and honest is there any assurance that his successors would be of the same integrity? Already the stories behind the Bhushans ( Shanthi and prashanth) are making rounds in the media.
I don’t understand the reason for inclusion of PM under the ambit of Lokpal, suppose if he is included, then some over jealous, publicity craving individual may shoot a letter making allegations against PM and Lokpal may order an CBI enquiry, what happens to administration if PM happens to go to jail ( as CBI enquiry often needs remand) , even if he gets bail, the ghost of enquiry will haunt him till enquiry aquits him. Let us suppose that our PM has to make Bilateral declaration along with another country on an like corruption eradication, his counterpart’s mischeivous smile will put the whole nation into a unnecessary shame ( this may happen within the intervening time between the order of enquiry and its judgement)
If some publicity mongering Lokpal may order PM not to enter into parliament and may aspire to get into history books. It serves the purpose of his publicity, but what happens to nation? There may be a situation when pakistan bribes an NGO for making alegation, then there would be chaos in the nation till the time enquiry completes and facts are established,, leave alone pakistan , any Deputy PM or Home minister aspiring for PM post may give some papers to the likes of Subramanya Swamy to mailgn PM and they plant statements that PM should nopt occupy his chair untill enquiry is completed, enough then Deputy PM will be the acting PM untill the enquiry is completed.
Because of draconian laws many times innocents also bear the brunt for no fault of them, if the Lokpal says that he feel that, there is prima facie case is there against the PM , then that would be enough for creating a scene for media organisations to make a mountain out of mole hill. There are many recorded instances where the likes of “Prevention of Dowry Act “ and Atrocities act were misused.
Beurocracy and Politicians faces certain occupational hazards, I seen some instances where some politicians faced allegations of corruption fo having a photograph with a person who later turns out to be a fraudster who was introduced to this politician by some local leaders as a donor or social activist.
I do agree that already there are already some draconian laws in place, but there is a counter force for them in the frorm of courts or some thing else. But we should not support the creation Frankenstein monster of Lokpal and likes of Anna Hazare who are bull dozing public opinion for creation of that monster.
I often wonder how a single person can blackmail whole society to follow his path by fasting, are the team Anna only intellectuals with integrity? I predict within some months there would be internal differences within them , and how then one can say that whaterver they say is sarcosanct?
Don’t compare Anna’s protest with that of Gandhi’s Satyagraha, that is mindless nonsense , as in colonial days there is no democracy, there is no channels of expression of public opinion, so there was need for agitation to show the public sopport. But now there is democracy, there can be a debate and with concencus, a bill. Why I called comparision with Gandhi a non sense is , Gandhi is phenomenon which took decades of process to be formed, any history student will that he toured whole nation, collected diverse opinions then formulated his methods, this Anna, as far as I know, did some activities in Maharashtra , he can’t be compared with Gandhi. Even the larger than life JP( Jayaprakash narayan) could not become Gandhi ( in the aftermath of JP movement he was called as Mahatma of 77), his own followers later chose to ignore him, then how Anna can become Gandhi , even if he is honest and stubborn.
Govenrment may commit mistakes in handling him, may be on a later stage surrender to him, I don’t know. But I wont support this current movement. If by this reason people call me a Dishonest, corrupt, or a supporter of corruption , I pity them. I know that I am far more honest than the politicians supporting Anna. I don’t have to proove it to any body.
Finally I conclude that, it would be unjustice if I don’t Anna for his moevement,. Atleast because of his efforts only Lokpal came to its present stage. So he should be practical now and make the passage of the bill possible, depending on the results , it can be upgraded on a later stage. Remember how much time RTI bill took for effective implementation. Atleast something is better than nothing
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