Crucial left outs

First and foremost, the argument of the government of the day and all other political parties that the members of civil society are out to usurp the power of law making needs to be debunked.

Where did this so called political class emanate from? N’aavi?

Were not Mahatma Gandhi, Mandela, Tilak, Gohkale, Sriramulu, Malavya, Vivekananda, Bhagat Singh, Besant, Tagore, from the civil society in the first place?

And what is so sacrosanct about the cry that “elected representatives” alone have the right to raise issues and demand implementation. The whole thing came about because these  

“Elected representatives” have failed in their duties and obligations and accountabilities.

It is sad that a 74 year old man has taken upon himself this task and is fasting. Probably were it not for him, no one would have taken the issue seriously. But the likes of Agnivesh, and Ramdev are not welcome.

Now, what is this Lokpal bill aiming to change?

They seem to have taken only, ..” anything made punishable under Chapter IX of the IPC or under the PCA 1988..” That does not encompass everything. And is nothing new.

Will it have the power to charge officials from the level of clerks and section officers and upwards of all government departments and bodies if they are complained about? Will it have the power to inquire, charge NGO’s of which at least 25% are charged with the purpose of getting funding form undisclosed and dubious sources? Will those NGO’s who are solely formed to create a nuisance and raise issues, file cases solely for the sake of doing so shut down? Inquire into vast cost over runs and delays in public projects? Waste public money on statues? Antecedents of coporator and upwards. Exemptions granted by politicians. Forget the PM being under the Lokpal, it is not correct. Bring the entire fabric of a department under the purview, rest will follow.

Will it have the power to inquire and take legal action against private parties?

A few examples:- Private business engaged in varied sectors is conducted with some assistance or the other from the government departments, whether it is the roads, buildings, public works, raw material supplies, defense supplies, movement of goods and services, petrol pumps, transportation, registrations, RTO, public health supplies, land grabbing, education supplies, hospital supplies, dams, IT and related industries, electrical appliances, semi conductors, street lights, laying of drainage, civic support systems…the banks, loan and overdraft disbursing; the list is endless.

What of cases like Harshad, Pillai’s, Parekh, Telgi, FII coming through Mauritius.

We also have private activities like the stock market, diamond and gold trading and ornaments, transport, retail and wholesale trading, services, the private companies are notorious in getting bills inflated. Govt sections officers are blamed more as the volume is very high here and another list that goes on.

Will the Lokpal have the power to take up these? Corruption happens most at these levels. Individually taken it is small change compared to the big ones that we have been reading about since 1990’s. But collectively it matches up.

How much can a Lokpal aim to achieve? Surely it has to cover all activities under the IPC 410 to 424, sadly it is excluded. One can argue that it can be revised. But which political class will agree? This inclusion should be at the initial stage.

It is saddening to see that corruption starts as early as the school level. School children give gifts to teachers so that they remain in good books. Students of professional colleges are asked for gifts or something else in return for favorable grades. Office staff asked for something for their promotion or favorable transfer. You need a driving license fast or a passport fast, you give something. This, the society has to tackle.