Janlokpal – lost in translation?
Govt. has presented its version of the lokpal bill in parliament, which has since been referred to the standing committee for deliberations. Standing committee in its first meeting had invited Anna and his team for their views and discussed their draft bill also. Many have raised questions on Anna’s draft and none of the political parties are in agreement to adopt his bill in totality. There are divergent views all around though everybody wants that a strong lokpal bill should come into force to check all pervasive corruption in the society.
Annaji has started its fast on 16th of Aug., amidst high drama of his arrest and release and parliament been paralyzed on govt.’s highhanded and clumsy handling of the situation. Anna’s arrest has brought out lakhs of people on streets in his support and decried govt.’s action in disallowing fundamental right of protest in a peaceful manner. Govt. has been badly humiliated inside and outside parliament and has finally backtracked by permitting Anna and his team to hold fast for 15days at Ramlila ground. Govt. had underestimated the public support Anna will be able to garner, and is confused on how to tackle the situation. It only hopes that crowd supporting Anna fizzles out due to fatigue or Anna is hospitalized to recover from prolonged fasting or similar such situation develops. Though Anna’s team is firm on its demand for strong lokpal as per its draft, yet there are voices within its team who want some give and take to settle the issue. Govt. too is probably willing to negotiate on some face saving terms of its own.
The first four days of his fast has been a distraction of the main issue of acceptance of the terms of janlokpal as attention was diverted to allowing Anna a suitable place to fast and the needed infrastructure like security, sanitation, drinking water, loudspeakers etc. The mass support is more emotional than rational as most in the crowd hardly understand what the main issues of Janlokpal and govt.’s version of the bill are, and what implications on short or long terms are involved in either of them. The masses supporting Anna have lost faith in the creditability of the system and political class as a whole. All politicians are by and large considered corrupt hence the anger on the streets is manifestation of pent up emotions which has got an opportunity of expression provided by the agitation led by Anna and his team. Young middle class people in urban areas as well as others all over the country have been able to connect themselves with Anna, a
selfless social activist in whom they see a ray of hope in his version of the bill, in cleaning the system of day to day corruption and punishing those indulging in looting the nation of its resources.
Anna’s team has set the deadline as 30th of Aug. but Govt. is no hurry to expedite the process instead is adopting the usual bureaucratic line of inviting public suggestions, personal interactions, public debate, all party consensus etc. that may take months to arrive at some conclusion before presenting the final bill in the parliament for approval. If the govt. sticks on its course of action then what happens to Anna’s life who continues with his fast? It is high time that govt. wakes up and listens to the aspirations of masses, which are on streets with peaceful protests in support of janlokpal. If public patience is tested too far, it will not take much time to get violent and be out of govt.’s control. Any attempt on negotiated settlement on the principle of give and take, as is being advocated will make janlokpal loose its sting in translation.
Prime minister has stressed on passing a strong lokpal bill. He has not spelled out what type of strong lokpal bill he is talking about? The bill finalized by his govt. and presented in the parliament is an apology to a strong lokpal. Everyone wants strong, effective and enforceable bill for which Anna is ready to lay down his life, but in this process they are missing the woods for the trees. The objectives is, not the bill but the need to check, control and erase corruption from the system. The bill is only a means but not the objective. Hence any bill which can uproot corruption and catch and punish those perpetrating this evil in shortest possible time should be acceptable. The janlokpal presented by the team Anna does show the promise of achieving the objective. It can be fine tuned to remove irritants by mutual discussions to arrive at a consensus.
Time is running out. Let us not permit team Anna’S efforts to go down the drain. If we loose the opportunity now to bring out a strong lokpal biil capable of achieving the objective we will never get it again. Govt. should come out with an effective solution to the problem acceptable to Anna and his team in particular and public in general. Govt. should realize the urgency of the suggestion to cool down tempers and bring normalcy on the streets.
May God give better sense to the govt. and strength to team Anna on logical conclusion of their efforts?
Govt. has presented its version of the lokpal bill in parliament, which has since been referred to the standing committee for deliberations. Standing committee in its first meeting had invited Anna and his team for their views and discussed their draft bill also. Many have raised questions on Anna’s draft and none of the political parties are in agreement to adopt his bill in totality. There are divergent views all around though everybody wants that a strong lokpal bill should come into force to check all pervasive corruption in the society.
Annaji has started its fast on 16th of Aug., amidst high drama of his arrest and release and parliament been paralyzed on govt.’s highhanded and clumsy handling of the situation. Anna’s arrest has brought out lakhs of people on streets in his support and decried govt.’s action in disallowing fundamental right of protest in a peaceful manner. Govt. has been badly humiliated inside and outside parliament and has finally backtracked by permitting Anna and his team to hold fast for 15days at Ramlila ground. Govt. had underestimated the public support Anna will be able to garner, and is confused on how to tackle the situation. It only hopes that crowd supporting Anna fizzles out due to fatigue or Anna is hospitalized to recover from prolonged fasting or similar such situation develops. Though Anna’s team is firm on its demand for strong lokpal as per its draft, yet there are voices within its team who want some give and take to settle the issue. Govt. too is probably willing to negotiate on some face saving terms of its own.
The first four days of his fast has been a distraction of the main issue of acceptance of the terms of janlokpal as attention was diverted to allowing Anna a suitable place to fast and the needed infrastructure like security, sanitation, drinking water, loudspeakers etc. The mass support is more emotional than rational as most in the crowd hardly understand what the main issues of Janlokpal and govt.’s version of the bill are, and what implications on short or long terms are involved in either of them. The masses supporting Anna have lost faith in the creditability of the system and political class as a whole. All politicians are by and large considered corrupt hence the anger on the streets is manifestation of pent up emotions which has got an opportunity of expression provided by the agitation led by Anna and his team. Young middle class people in urban areas as well as others all over the country have been able to connect themselves with Anna, a
selfless social activist in whom they see a ray of hope in his version of the bill, in cleaning the system of day to day corruption and punishing those indulging in looting the nation of its resources.
Anna’s team has set the deadline as 30th of Aug. but Govt. is no hurry to expedite the process instead is adopting the usual bureaucratic line of inviting public suggestions, personal interactions, public debate, all party consensus etc. that may take months to arrive at some conclusion before presenting the final bill in the parliament for approval. If the govt. sticks on its course of action then what happens to Anna’s life who continues with his fast? It is high time that govt. wakes up and listens to the aspirations of masses, which are on streets with peaceful protests in support of janlokpal. If public patience is tested too far, it will not take much time to get violent and be out of govt.’s control. Any attempt on negotiated settlement on the principle of give and take, as is being advocated will make janlokpal loose its sting in translation.
Prime minister has stressed on passing a strong lokpal bill. He has not spelled out what type of strong lokpal bill he is talking about? The bill finalized by his govt. and presented in the parliament is an apology to a strong lokpal. Everyone wants strong, effective and enforceable bill for which Anna is ready to lay down his life, but in this process they are missing the woods for the trees. The objectives is, not the bill but the need to check, control and erase corruption from the system. The bill is only a means but not the objective. Hence any bill which can uproot corruption and catch and punish those perpetrating this evil in shortest possible time should be acceptable. The janlokpal presented by the team Anna does show the promise of achieving the objective. It can be fine tuned to remove irritants by mutual discussions to arrive at a consensus.
Time is running out. Let us not permit team Anna’S efforts to go down the drain. If we loose the opportunity now to bring out a strong lokpal biil capable of achieving the objective we will never get it again. Govt. should come out with an effective solution to the problem acceptable to Anna and his team in particular and public in general. Govt. should realize the urgency of the suggestion to cool down tempers and bring normalcy on the streets.
May God give better sense to the govt. and strength to team Anna on logical conclusion of their efforts?
Satyendra Malik
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