Thursday 25 August 2011

Force Feeding a Govt. into Discussing

While there have been several anti-corruption campaigns and crusades in the past, what sets this apart from the rest is the sheer practical nature of the demands that've been put across, even though unconstitutional it might sound to the parliamentarians, but its never been said that the constitution itself cannot be amended, cos its "people first" in any democracy.
Anna as the cynosure of this demonstration stands out to the extent that he sure is reverberating with his thunderous slogans plucked straight from the bygone freedom struggle. Its my view, whats driving him is the vicarious thrills of reliving the joy of sacrificing by the great freedom fighters; the likes of Gandhi, Bhagat Singh etc. The fact that much of his inspiration and ideologies are Gandhian is a no brainer. Although Anna's role in the freedom struggle does not match the leagues of the big names, he sure wouldn't mind replicating the feat of the great freedom fighters. He aptly names it the second freedom struggle, to get that adrenalin flowing and thrills unlimited.
People might think its crazy that he's doing it for the thrills of sacrificing, but such is the nature of the feeling that one goes through when one is itching to be counted in the league of people who've made major sacrifices for the country, especially for someone who's seen the freedom struggle from such close quarters.
That apart, whether the govt accepts the bill, rejects the bill, or tweaks it, it is important not to brand the current govt. worthless, to the extent of giving the opposition parties an upper hand. Remember, no one is clean here. Its important to let the bill find its way till it becomes law, and hopefully, bring this same govt. back to power in the next general elections, to experiment the Lokpal on them like guinea pigs, and ensure the opposition too learns a lesson or two from this, and works harder and better to show its importance and worth to the people of this country. It has to be emphasized that for any democracy to work well, a strong and smart opposition is a must.
While the congress led UPA is being criticized of its handling and bungling, its actually not too bad that in such delicate matters the govt shows a bit of silliness or foolishness, cos making rigid and forceful decisions to show conviction and control can backfire, which they perhaps realized to some extent during Baba Ramdev's rally, to a greater extent on arresting Anna, and completely sealing it with their spokesman Manish Tiwari resorting to painting Anna black with concocted stories at a press conference.
Being indecisive and looking foolish is a better option here for the govt., as facing the wrath of the people would be the last thing on any govt's mind.

Monday 22 August 2011

Fast Tracking Rules thro' Fasting

I've presented my view to several people to which the response is that I'm perhaps envious of what Anna is trying to achieve, and I feel a point of view placed against Anna's crusade should not be termed negative simply because there is popular support for it.
Simple case; Anna's attempt at using Fast-Unto-Death approach for a cause, as a means to first garner support and then force-blackmail the govt into agreeing to terms and conditions of the citizens lokpal bill is a path that smacks of rigidity, and lack of a desire to find common ground. Factually, the entire country has not been consulted through a referendum, the paradrafting of the citizens lokpal version, so no one individual or team can claim that they represent the citizen's group.
Just like Anna and supporters are using their democratic right to protest, the police and govt agencies are using their institutional rights to clamp down on them, as it almost seems fashionable to use the capital city as flashpoint for creating chaos, and disrupting normal life, for whatever cause.
The fasting and protest can very well be conducted 30Kms away from the capital, where the whole thing can be carried out in peace, unless playing to the galleries is one's intent.
Lastly, cant the team just hand over the citizen's bill to an elected, current, and deserving MP to represent the citizens and fight it out and debate in the parliament. Every one can see the live debates on LokSabha TV too.
As of now, it seems that one is just adamant to place one's terms and condition and force it down your elected representatives, absolutely ignoring and trashing the procedures, and thinking that this is the only time and method to bring about change and revolution. How can you just ignore the parliamentary democratic systems in place to get things moving. And if democracy is not what works well, then authoritarianism is best suited for a country like our's where people completely lose their freedom of all kinds and be dictated terms and conditions of disciplined living.
How about trying out the above method of searching for the most suitable elected MP and then wait for the whichever version to be passed and be made law. One can always protest, and demonstrate after that, as all laws can be subject to amendments if its well within reasonable logic and passed by the govt of the day.
One would say that the MPs would be bought over, but I say, the MP fighting for this cause can single handedly become a hero too, which will be incentive for him and boost his political cause for the future.