A number of controversies have erupted like blisters since Anna Hazare jump-started the near-moribund collective conscience of India's civil society, which has admirably adapted itself to living with humongous corruption all around. That number is matched only by the array of corruption cases and scams that continue to surface with alarming frequency across the country. While the arguments will go on well after the last cow comes home as to the pros and cons of the process adopted by Anna Hazare and Co. as well as the outcome, what intrigues me as a common man is the glibness with which some people have put forth an argument as to why what happened is not good for democracy and democratic institutions. One representative argument is that by going on fast, Anna Hazare had blackmailed the government into bypassing established democratic processes and having his own choice of individuals on the Drafting Committee (DC).
From where the man-on-the-street is looking, political parties and politicians had all the time they needed and more, over 40 years to be in the ball-park, to bring about some meaningful legislation to lend teeth to institutions like Lokpal and Lokayukta; but they conveniently did nothing significant to improve the situation in the fight against corruption. The motive is not far to seek; status quo suited politicians and bureaucrats very well. Why would even a half-intelligent politician/bureaucrat want to tighten the noose around his own neck, when the going is so good?? So, collectively, whether it be in the states or centre, precious little has been done to facilitate speedy and effective prosecution of offenders, and to deter others through exemplary punishment for those convicted. At every turn some hurdle is being erected by people with vested interests, using some excuse or loophole in the laws dealing with cases of corruption. A good example is the case being handled by the Karnataka Lokayukta. Despite very impressive and thorough investigative work and proof-gathering, cases involving illegal mining by powerful politicians have been brazenly and systematically pushed back, until the Supreme Court intervened. The whole idea has been to delay the process by stonewalling, until the next legal or procedural loophole can be identified and exploited to secure some more time to line the pockets further. And our anti-corruption laws have been rendered so toothless that the offenders flaunt and strut their stuff openly, with outrageous contempt for everything to do with law and democracy.
How does anyone explain the phenomenal increase in the wealth of politicians between two elections?? The numbers are mind-boggling. One politician in Andhra has declared assets in 2010, showing an increase of about 600% in his wealth in 4 years; and then, it looks like that number does not even account for half of the booty! When numbers declared are like Rs 40,000 crores etc, one wonders how can anyone accumulate such wealth in the span of a few years?? Unless, a big chunk of this has come from money which belongs to the country at large?
In this context, if a senior editor of a respected magazine states that what Anna Hazare and Co. have done is heap ridicule on the democratic institutions in India, the common man wonders whether this editor is off his rocker!! Dirty politicians and bureaucrats are swindling the country; same politicians are entrusted with the responsibility of legislating to punish corruption - a classic case of the fence eating the crop; they have not done their job in over 40 years because any change for the better undermines their avaricious ways ; the so-called democratic structures seem to have failed to find a remedy; now a new beginning has been made through another route and you find fault with that?; why would any right-thinking individual object? It is not as if a legislation is being passed on the street; all that has been done is to ensure that the next edition of the Lokpal bill has appropriate provisions to plug all the holes, which have been deliberately left there to be exploited. If the government had its way, it would have pushed this burning issue further into the background without any compunction; or it would have, at best, pretended to add a line here and another there to the legislation and left the core of the laws exactly as they are, so that the flag-bearers of democracy in the government continue with their merry ways. This committee, with 5 people genuinely representing the interests of people at large, can counter all the manipulations of the 5 government sponsored members to ensure that some reasonable improvements are suggested in the draft. Why is there such a furor from some quarters to this process, as if Anna Hazare is going to promulgate a new law against corruption? After all, when the draft is ready, it will be discussed in the parliament, right??
I wonder what is being bypassed! Democratic institutions in the country which were not performing their duties have been given a gentle reminder that they should wake up. Why are some people shedding crocodile tears now, when all that has been done is to force those institutions to rectify the problem? Would such individuals stand up and suggest an alternative route? Or do they want the menace of corruption to continue unchecked until majority of the politicians decide they have had enough of raping the country, its resources, the public, have a change of heart suddenly and decide to pass a new legislation to deal with corruption?
It has been sometime since I heard such sanctimonious humbug from anyone, really!!
From where the man-on-the-street is looking, political parties and politicians had all the time they needed and more, over 40 years to be in the ball-park, to bring about some meaningful legislation to lend teeth to institutions like Lokpal and Lokayukta; but they conveniently did nothing significant to improve the situation in the fight against corruption. The motive is not far to seek; status quo suited politicians and bureaucrats very well. Why would even a half-intelligent politician/bureaucrat want to tighten the noose around his own neck, when the going is so good?? So, collectively, whether it be in the states or centre, precious little has been done to facilitate speedy and effective prosecution of offenders, and to deter others through exemplary punishment for those convicted. At every turn some hurdle is being erected by people with vested interests, using some excuse or loophole in the laws dealing with cases of corruption. A good example is the case being handled by the Karnataka Lokayukta. Despite very impressive and thorough investigative work and proof-gathering, cases involving illegal mining by powerful politicians have been brazenly and systematically pushed back, until the Supreme Court intervened. The whole idea has been to delay the process by stonewalling, until the next legal or procedural loophole can be identified and exploited to secure some more time to line the pockets further. And our anti-corruption laws have been rendered so toothless that the offenders flaunt and strut their stuff openly, with outrageous contempt for everything to do with law and democracy.
How does anyone explain the phenomenal increase in the wealth of politicians between two elections?? The numbers are mind-boggling. One politician in Andhra has declared assets in 2010, showing an increase of about 600% in his wealth in 4 years; and then, it looks like that number does not even account for half of the booty! When numbers declared are like Rs 40,000 crores etc, one wonders how can anyone accumulate such wealth in the span of a few years?? Unless, a big chunk of this has come from money which belongs to the country at large?
In this context, if a senior editor of a respected magazine states that what Anna Hazare and Co. have done is heap ridicule on the democratic institutions in India, the common man wonders whether this editor is off his rocker!! Dirty politicians and bureaucrats are swindling the country; same politicians are entrusted with the responsibility of legislating to punish corruption - a classic case of the fence eating the crop; they have not done their job in over 40 years because any change for the better undermines their avaricious ways ; the so-called democratic structures seem to have failed to find a remedy; now a new beginning has been made through another route and you find fault with that?; why would any right-thinking individual object? It is not as if a legislation is being passed on the street; all that has been done is to ensure that the next edition of the Lokpal bill has appropriate provisions to plug all the holes, which have been deliberately left there to be exploited. If the government had its way, it would have pushed this burning issue further into the background without any compunction; or it would have, at best, pretended to add a line here and another there to the legislation and left the core of the laws exactly as they are, so that the flag-bearers of democracy in the government continue with their merry ways. This committee, with 5 people genuinely representing the interests of people at large, can counter all the manipulations of the 5 government sponsored members to ensure that some reasonable improvements are suggested in the draft. Why is there such a furor from some quarters to this process, as if Anna Hazare is going to promulgate a new law against corruption? After all, when the draft is ready, it will be discussed in the parliament, right??
I wonder what is being bypassed! Democratic institutions in the country which were not performing their duties have been given a gentle reminder that they should wake up. Why are some people shedding crocodile tears now, when all that has been done is to force those institutions to rectify the problem? Would such individuals stand up and suggest an alternative route? Or do they want the menace of corruption to continue unchecked until majority of the politicians decide they have had enough of raping the country, its resources, the public, have a change of heart suddenly and decide to pass a new legislation to deal with corruption?
It has been sometime since I heard such sanctimonious humbug from anyone, really!!
2 comments:
Great write-up uncle. I think you have hit upon some key nuances that were missing in the entire debate - particularly with regards to, as you said, the 'furor' over Anna Hazare's methods.
A good look at the ground realities.
I had a practical(?) solution to end corruption:
'Probably we could continue the euphoria and the sense of one country by forgetting and forgiving the recent scams and starting with a new slate. We could think of declaring an amnesty for corrupt politicians, officials and business men. We could start with all the 'A' category of corruption to start with. The modalities could be worked out. It should not be impossible. If we can win a world cup we can do anything! Afterall all Indians are brilliant.'
http://nidhibenagaluru.blogspot.com/2011/04/while-euphoria-lasts.html
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