Anna... Anna... Annaa... the chant goes on and on. Kejriwal who has done some wonderful work and whose achievements have eased the burden of all Indians was smart to rope in a politician- Bhushan, a smart and daring lawyer- Prashant., a daring, scrupulously honest ex police officer- Kiran. Now he wanted a person who has been rainmaker and practically changed things the right way.- Kisan Baburao Hazare. His achievements are such and his record blemish-less that he had to be part of a movement that had to bring teeth to the existing laws, legal forums.Actually if not for Anna Hazare the whole idea would have flopped at the intial stage itself. Such is his reputation, record. He is patient but impatient for results. This has worked in Sidhi, and about a 100 villages nearby. The State saw two changes because of his crusade.But at the National level, especially with the wily congress and the hawkish main opposition, one needs to mix Gandhi's methods, Rajaji's thoughts, Vivekananda's clarity along-with Sardar's timing.
The Government of the day on the other hand got caught with its hands in the cookie jar. Shameful that the highest judiciary had to order the inquiries and so on to find out the fingers, hands, and head that's been emptying the people's jar.
The Government shamelessly takes credit for whatever action( read arrests) it's agency has taken, when it did nothing since 2007-2008. I will not go into all those details here as it is now well documented and in the public domain.
The team headed by Hazare- called fondly Anna, in my view made a mistake by threatening to go on fast unto death the first time around when the government was not responsive to changes in certain law, and bring in a new Lokpal Bill. Baba Ramdev's drama is irrelevant here.
It is true that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi the Mahatma, and Baba Amte, had taken the route of fasting demanding certain changes and end to many discriminations and atrocities. But these were issues that had to be done in that manner due to the circumstances prevailing at the time. They had to do it to awaken the people and to bring people together as a single potent, peaceful force.
Today in a democracy, when one needs a change at a policy level or that which encompasses the entire populace, I believe that extensive dialogues should be held first. The first dialogue should have been to reach out to the citizens with different sets of proposed changes and then whittle them down to the changeable. By then public opinion and education would have been somewhat reached. The approach to the Government should have followed simultaneously or thereafter. Upping the ante- should have been if the Parliament rejects or makes drastic changes.
Obviously any Government caught in the act would reject outright any change or challenge to their authority and right and might. Further cajoling, discussions, demands and raising public opinion would have put pressure and the right pressure.
It is here that I opine that the first fast was a mistake. Fasting by the forefathers was a method to force the authorities to stop certain atrocities and communal clashes. It is a peaceful weapon, but a weapon to be used as a last resort.
Meanwhile as the congress is an expert at this there started malignment, shabby language from the Government. There were unnecessary letters from the civil panel as well
Now having scored the first round and two different drafts are emerging and the issue has a process, merely the reason for certain points being either rejected or redefined does not call for something like this or nothing or else I go on fast. Surely the people could have been mobilised to demand the government to discuss again about the 6 changes that are in disagreement. Thus I believe that the present fast has become a political pressure tactic. Anna's first fast should have been reserved if the Parliament makes drastic changes to the proposed Lokpal bill.
This proposed fast on the day we enter our 65th anniversary of independence, to me seems more as a pressure tactic . I has become spontaneous only today as it was announced well in advance. But the we come to a law and order issue as well. And why the hell should an old man of 74+ years fast when there are much younger guys along with him? They say that.."we are fasting with him". I say...." Why should he fast. You fast and he should guide you".
India is facing innumerable security concerns and we are well aware of the gross inadequacies of our vigilance and intelligence. Any of these instances could take place during the fast where at least 10,000 or more people will converge. ( We don't know how many will fast or how many will remain for the duration unless it's a relay fast).... 1.Anti-social elements wait for such an opportunity. 2. Miltant organizations wait for such a chance.
3. Some chap may lose his head and start off with throwing an object around. 4. Anyone can slip into the crowd and blow himself up. Now this will be the concern of the police.
What do the police do? They are charged to maintain law and order. Anna Hazare should have agreed to
1.. Limit people into the park.All others could have been asked to sit on fast elsewhere or all over Delhi.
2. Stop use of Loudspeakers after 8.p.m. 3. No car parking near the park. Surely these are reasonable demands. Of course asking for limiting the duration of the fast is high-handedness of the Police.
Having granted that the police had some demands, arresting people who are protesting peacefully? May be the police and the government have a different take that if there was no arrest there would have been a stampede later or something like that. Surely this action of the police and the government both centre and state: terming it as a preventive measure is nonsense.
And why does not anybody highlight the issue of Irom sharmila who has been fasting for 11 years, and half of them in and out of jails. and all this for repeal of AFSPA? There should be modifications in the provision considering the sensitive and security concerns of Manipur. Will the Govt bend if a very very strong movement of similar demand is raised in J&K. Sure, it should modify if not repeal. But why is Irom not even highlighted. Manipur is a distant faraway state of no consequence except during elections,right? Not only that AFSPA does not affect the mainland mainstream citizen or media, corruption is all encompassing.What is the so called human rights commission doing? The so called NGO's and activists. Because of the AFSPA, Irom's struggle is without support of hordes of people, but 11 years? The NDA and UPAI,II have not even a fig leaf to stand on this.
Where do I differ in my opinion on the provisions of the proposed Lokpal Bill?
1. Bringing the Prime Minister during his/her tenure- This is not correct unless there are complaints directly attributed to the PM's office. Otherwise, after the PM demits office.
2. Conduct of the MP's in Parliament. This is the job of the speaker. this conduct should not be under lokpal.
Some additions
1. Definition of Government servant. The existing definition is insufficient. Every government servant from the level of HOD upwards.
2. MLC's ,Corporators, MLA's should come under the Lokayukta. which should be set up in every state.
3. There should be adequate provisions to cover Private business and all the PSU's.
.
The Government of the day on the other hand got caught with its hands in the cookie jar. Shameful that the highest judiciary had to order the inquiries and so on to find out the fingers, hands, and head that's been emptying the people's jar.
The Government shamelessly takes credit for whatever action( read arrests) it's agency has taken, when it did nothing since 2007-2008. I will not go into all those details here as it is now well documented and in the public domain.
The team headed by Hazare- called fondly Anna, in my view made a mistake by threatening to go on fast unto death the first time around when the government was not responsive to changes in certain law, and bring in a new Lokpal Bill. Baba Ramdev's drama is irrelevant here.
It is true that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi the Mahatma, and Baba Amte, had taken the route of fasting demanding certain changes and end to many discriminations and atrocities. But these were issues that had to be done in that manner due to the circumstances prevailing at the time. They had to do it to awaken the people and to bring people together as a single potent, peaceful force.
Today in a democracy, when one needs a change at a policy level or that which encompasses the entire populace, I believe that extensive dialogues should be held first. The first dialogue should have been to reach out to the citizens with different sets of proposed changes and then whittle them down to the changeable. By then public opinion and education would have been somewhat reached. The approach to the Government should have followed simultaneously or thereafter. Upping the ante- should have been if the Parliament rejects or makes drastic changes.
Obviously any Government caught in the act would reject outright any change or challenge to their authority and right and might. Further cajoling, discussions, demands and raising public opinion would have put pressure and the right pressure.
It is here that I opine that the first fast was a mistake. Fasting by the forefathers was a method to force the authorities to stop certain atrocities and communal clashes. It is a peaceful weapon, but a weapon to be used as a last resort.
Meanwhile as the congress is an expert at this there started malignment, shabby language from the Government. There were unnecessary letters from the civil panel as well
Now having scored the first round and two different drafts are emerging and the issue has a process, merely the reason for certain points being either rejected or redefined does not call for something like this or nothing or else I go on fast. Surely the people could have been mobilised to demand the government to discuss again about the 6 changes that are in disagreement. Thus I believe that the present fast has become a political pressure tactic. Anna's first fast should have been reserved if the Parliament makes drastic changes to the proposed Lokpal bill.
This proposed fast on the day we enter our 65th anniversary of independence, to me seems more as a pressure tactic . I has become spontaneous only today as it was announced well in advance. But the we come to a law and order issue as well. And why the hell should an old man of 74+ years fast when there are much younger guys along with him? They say that.."we are fasting with him". I say...." Why should he fast. You fast and he should guide you".
India is facing innumerable security concerns and we are well aware of the gross inadequacies of our vigilance and intelligence. Any of these instances could take place during the fast where at least 10,000 or more people will converge. ( We don't know how many will fast or how many will remain for the duration unless it's a relay fast).... 1.Anti-social elements wait for such an opportunity. 2. Miltant organizations wait for such a chance.
3. Some chap may lose his head and start off with throwing an object around. 4. Anyone can slip into the crowd and blow himself up. Now this will be the concern of the police.
What do the police do? They are charged to maintain law and order. Anna Hazare should have agreed to
1.. Limit people into the park.All others could have been asked to sit on fast elsewhere or all over Delhi.
2. Stop use of Loudspeakers after 8.p.m. 3. No car parking near the park. Surely these are reasonable demands. Of course asking for limiting the duration of the fast is high-handedness of the Police.
Having granted that the police had some demands, arresting people who are protesting peacefully? May be the police and the government have a different take that if there was no arrest there would have been a stampede later or something like that. Surely this action of the police and the government both centre and state: terming it as a preventive measure is nonsense.
And why does not anybody highlight the issue of Irom sharmila who has been fasting for 11 years, and half of them in and out of jails. and all this for repeal of AFSPA? There should be modifications in the provision considering the sensitive and security concerns of Manipur. Will the Govt bend if a very very strong movement of similar demand is raised in J&K. Sure, it should modify if not repeal. But why is Irom not even highlighted. Manipur is a distant faraway state of no consequence except during elections,right? Not only that AFSPA does not affect the mainland mainstream citizen or media, corruption is all encompassing.What is the so called human rights commission doing? The so called NGO's and activists. Because of the AFSPA, Irom's struggle is without support of hordes of people, but 11 years? The NDA and UPAI,II have not even a fig leaf to stand on this.
Where do I differ in my opinion on the provisions of the proposed Lokpal Bill?
1. Bringing the Prime Minister during his/her tenure- This is not correct unless there are complaints directly attributed to the PM's office. Otherwise, after the PM demits office.
2. Conduct of the MP's in Parliament. This is the job of the speaker. this conduct should not be under lokpal.
Some additions
1. Definition of Government servant. The existing definition is insufficient. Every government servant from the level of HOD upwards.
2. MLC's ,Corporators, MLA's should come under the Lokayukta. which should be set up in every state.
3. There should be adequate provisions to cover Private business and all the PSU's.
.
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