My take on Anna Hazare and his fight against corruption.
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Anna Hazare - A threat to democracy?
Anna Hazare is being hailed by some as the messiah who will deliver India from the hands of the corrupt and evil. While others call the man Gandhi and some even call him, Gandhi himself reincarnated who will rid India of corruption. But really who is this man who has made India to come to a standstill? And just what is he doing?
For starters Anna Hazare is an Indian war hero but the same man who once fought for this great country is now keen on tearing it down. A man who has helped India tremendously in the past, upholds a righteous cause as he stands against corruption that is so prevalent in the India, but in the act of working towards a uncorrupt India, he is shaking the very foundations of the country and has been in the last few weeks more successful in doing what the Pakistan insurgents and the Naxalites have been trying to do for years.
Yes! I just equated Anna Hazare’s efforts to the same level as that of the Pakistan terror and the Naxalites. Don’t get me wrong here. I appreciate the man’s cause and I would like nothing better than an uncorrupt India with all its government officials being upright and trustworthy. Also I awe the fact that Anna Hazare who at the age of 74 is doing what his convictions tell him is right and is actually standing up for them, but here I also disagree when I see the methods employed by him. He has the support of the public (half of them who have no clue what the real issue is with the Lokpal), and the media who are more than happy to improve their TV ratings and flare the public’s emotions rather than present the facts and the truth. With these two as his main weapons, Anna Hazare is misleading the public into revolting against their own country!
The general public sees Anna Hazare as a hero who stands for a righteous cause, and they support him blindly. They are ignorant of the real issue with the Lokpal (a friend of mine who is studying law went to a rally in Bangalore supporting Anna Hazare’s campaign asked a few people there what they thought about the Government’s Lokpal and the Jan Lokpal. Most of them were surprised to hear that there was more than one bill.) and the opposition has wasted no time in making this a mudslinging opportunity to tarnish the already fragile public outlook of the present government. Where does team Anna gets the money to run such a huge campaign? With big political parties such as the RSS and public figures supporting him of course, and isn’t it ironical that most of these organizations and public figures themselves having allegations of corruption leveled against them? The public believes that the Lokpal bill would be the answer to the problem called corruption, and the truth is far from it. Nothing can erase corruption completely and the Lokpal bill is no magic wand that can be waved to make the menace disappear. It is a work in process and slowly the system will be cleansed. However the public is misguided in thinking that the Lokpal will help them as they seek jobs, financial security, economy, and battle inflation. The Lokpal bill even if it does become law will do none of these or at least not in the near future. Its effect will only be felt in the longer term of things. I pity Anna Hazare in a way as his campaign has become the battle ground for a political slugfest. Just look at the BJP criticize the government’s Lokpal, however when it comes to taking a stance it is undecided and won’t comment. The pawn caught in the crossfire still however remains as the king in this game and calls the shots.
I find Anna Hazare extremely immature and undemocratic. I say that by looking at his actions. Instead of trying to sit down, talk and work out or at least try to work out a solution, Anna Hazare sits in a stage in front of thousands (and millions thanks to the media) refusing to eat until the Government passes his bill in the parliament! Now does this not resemble a small boy crying for a toy he possibly can never have? You might ask what is undemocratic in protesting peacefully in the way that Anna Hazare has done so far. It is undemocratic as he challenges the very principles of democracy! Not only does he attack the government and call for its head but also is adamant on having it wiped out if it doesn’t listen to his desires. He’s openly blackmailing the government of India and daring them to fight him. With the public support and the backing of the media, Anna Hazare has the two things that keeps democracy in check and now by trying to become the government or rather enforce and exhort the government into passing his Jan Lokpal bill, I’d say that Anna Hazare or rather his methods are everything but democratic!
He was arrested and that was termed as undemocratic. But now with him holding the government ransom, no one seems to care about this latest threat of terror. Anna Hazare has said that he is willing to die to see that his Jan Lokpal bill is passed in the parliament. Now, is that even in his control? No! In a democracy it is elected representatives that take the decision on behalf of the people who vote them! So why kidnap and try to enslave the entire system in the name of an upright cause and hold the government ransom?
The government who has not been making the smartest of decisions when it involves the Lokpal issue has been partly to blame for tearing and destroying itself, but is the government really as unreasonable as team Anna says it is? Hasn’t the government passed the three Lokpal bills (the government Lokpal, Aruna Roy’s Lokpal and the Jan Lokpal) in front of the standing committee and has tried to work out a compromise? Haven’t the government and the PM personally even now appealed to Anna Hazare to end his fast and try to work out a solution that will be beneficial for all? So when all this has been done, why is team Anna so keen on just their point of view and their bill alone? Why can’t they settle for a compromise?
Is it because the Jan Lokpal is stronger than the other bills and will enable the fight against corruption in a better way? That’s what Anna Hazare and his team preaches, but the truth is far from it. The Jan Lokpal is totally undemocratic with total powers of investigation (can sanction tapping of phones, intercept communication) executive, and prosecution and even to some judiciary powers (can impose fines, and sentences) vested to it. With such powers resting in the hands of a few, it is highly unstable. Everyone in India from the Prime Minister to the peddler in the streets would be under this and the misuse of such great powers would have irreparable damages and the very concept is unethical to say the least. The Roman poet, Juvenal once said, "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" which translated states, "Who will guard the guards?" or "Who watches the watchman?". With the Lokpal allowing such definite power in the hands of few, who or what system will monitor the Lokpal panel? Such ultimate powers violate every freedom that democracy gives and shouldn’t we oppose such a bill? Also many parts of the bill though sounds very good as it promotes strong actions is just impracticable. This is not to say that the Government’s version is any less faulty. It also has glaring flaws and needs rectification. However with the Government wanting a strong Lokpal and Anna Hazare wanting the same, isn’t it logical that they both sit down and work out a compromise taking the good from the three bills?
The means must justify the end, and I can say that what Anna Hazare and his team are doing at the moment doesn’t justify their noble intentions. A wise man once said that politics is the art of compromise. I think it’s time someone reminds Anna Hazare that. You cannot be having an adamant all-or-nothing attitude. Now with more than 200 hours of fasting, I hope team Anna finally see the light and call off the fast and truly start working for a better India in a more civilized, organized and democratic way.
