Why Anna Hazare should not win this battle
CP Surendran
18 August 2011
A most comical anti-corruption opera is being staged all over the country under the leadership of Anna Hazare, who in his moral tyranny is actually beginning to look like Mahatma Gandhi. This itself is a bit of laugh: when a man wants to be someone else eventually transmigration of the soul and nose happens. It only remains for Anna to hold the Dandi March.
But the real reason why this anti-corruption campaign is looking like an over-stretched Johnny Lever joke is that the people largely constituting the movement have happily externalized corruption as if it’s an event happening outside themselves.
The fact is that the petite bourgeoisie- auto rickshaw drivers, and constables, if Haryana Police Sangathan support for Jan Lok Pal’s bill is any indication, and low paid government officials and assorted elements-have no idea that they are very much part of the corruption. They believe it is a disease outside them, primarily endemic to the government and its institutions, when they are active players in the drama.
The others who are a part of the movement, including the youngsters, who this lookist country swears by, are there for an opportunity to hold candles and chant Sarojini Naidu kind of poems which normally begin: O, deliverer. The youth will hold a candle and even burn a finger from the dripping wax, but when it comes to admission, if an IIT director or an engineering college dean will accept cash for seats, they will gladly part with it.
For one with passing interest in the Lokpal politics, the only major difference in the bills drafted by the government and Anna apart from bringing the PM into the bill’s ambit, seems to be that the government wants to set up a separate investigative agency while Anna and his team want an existing investigating agency like the CBI to report to the Lokpal committee. That would eventually mean the Lokpal evolving into a parallel power vortex, and might make Parliament redundant.
In other words, those whom you elected will not be of as much consequence as those self-appointed or government nominated Lokpal committee members. That is a fraught process, and actually might create more unaccountability and corruption.
That is one part of the joke. The other, equally entertaining part has been the Congress-led UPA government’s complete and visible bankruptcy of ideas to tackle an agitation outside party structures. Much the same happened before the Emergency when Jayaparakash Naryan led a movement that cut across party lines against the Indira Gandhi led Congress government, which panicked and declared an Emergency.
Anna’s movement is mostly apolitical. And the support it has drawn, for all its faults, is an indication how political parties and other democratic institutions have failed to represent people, or inspire faith. Across the world, memberships of political parties are decreasing. Alternate people’s groupings with environmental and ethical themes are gaining strength. In Europe and America where democracies are institutionally stronger and fairer than in India, this could be explained as an evolution.
But, in India where fairness woven into the system is at best fraying, when a movement is directed primarily against its institutions and the political party in power as well as the ones in Opposition are fumbling in their response, a movement like this can have dire consequences. Clearly, the parties have failed to represent the people, which is why a moral tyrant like Anna is holding the government to ransom. When institutions fail, individuals take up their role. .And if Anna wins, the nature of Indian politics will change.
It’d be fun to see who were the advisors who landed a wimp like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh into the Lok Pal soup. A party that can’t argue its case against a retired army truck driver whose only strength really is a kind of stolid integrity and a talent for skipping meals doesn’t deserve to be in power. Power goes to people who love it. Anna Hazare loves nothing more than power
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thats anarchyabout an hour ago · Like · 1 person -
i agree corruption is all over d place n a thorough cleansing shud be done.but den u gotta start at some point na…..haath pe haath rakhne se kuch nahi hota…….someone has to start n if Annaji is doing it ….den well v shud support him whole heartedly…..:0about an hour ago · Like · 3 people -
i do support the movement but when i look into those lives who leading such things….then they are not worth it….about an hour ago · Like · 1 person -
cant help….i liked it & shared it as wellabout an hour ago · Like · 1 person
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yup….someone has to start it…on the contrary its gonna affect to all…am not saying we should stop it but it has to be started by inner heart of 1.2 billion Indians first….then we should moveabout an hour ago · Like · 1 person
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This fella…surendra is trying to become an ‘intellectual’ by criticisizing anna ji!!I can challenge him to show a single political fellow who has the guts to convince people from all walks of life to shout – ‘ i am anna’ & mind you they are not being paid to do it!!Let us wish that annaji succeeds in getting a ‘logical’ lokpal bill to be passed & implemented!!This time… We indians are damn serious & there is no looking back…..!!about an hour ago · Like · 3 people -
we need combination of intellectuals n idealist very difficult but i hope not impossibleabout an hour ago · Like · 2 people
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And the people in power are so great and very conscientious , a PM which is forever in mute mode, Prince Charming who is lost God knows where and rest Madam Sonia and her sycophants..!about an hour ago · Like · 3 people -
boond boond se gagag bharta hai……….slowly n steadily ppl r getting conviced dat dis system shud end……so why wait for others to react…..u come forward n join in dis campaign against corruption……..:)about an hour ago · Like · 2 people
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gagar…oops sp. mistake….:)about an hour ago · Like · 1 person
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always against corruption unfair things but more than anything else i find the poverty of india the most glaring problem people who live on footpath worse than animals wish we could bring some dignity in their livesabout an hour ago · Like · 2 people
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well i too wish that lokpal bill to be passed should get implemented sir….. but wondering implementing on whom? on corrupted politicians? or on corrupted peoples? or on corrupted nation?about an hour ago · Like · 1 person
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SUPERB! Renny.. I loved reading this. I am glad, there are people outside the mob, who use their brains to think. I wud personally be disgusted if I were blackmailed to do something, even if I agreed with the basic concept. Anna says its his way or the highway.. I prefer the highway. What is the point of an elected govt, if they in turn are going to elect their rulers. hahahha.. Govt is corrupt, Anna’s Lokpal will be the most corrupt. and then, people will take candles to vote the Lokpal out and make a Janpal…or something worse. The Sadhus and Sadhvis and wanna be babas want to rule over us. And we mad/naive Indians are rejoicing and calling on to our own doom. How Sick!about an hour ago · Like · 2 people -
thanks Sudha…loved your comments…you are first one of my friend who have supported me in this….and yes how disgusting that The Sadhus and Sadhvis and wanna be babas want to rule over us and peoples are trying accusing & abusing leadersabout an hour ago · Like · 1 person
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dinner burnt to cinders forgot about it in al this !!!!!!!!!!!!!about an hour ago · Like · 1 person
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LOL.. They are all walking with Gandhi topis and abusing Gandhis..hahahahahahaabout an hour ago · Like · 1 person
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I am not anti the cause, but, am surprised at how naive we Indians are.. Any party in power, will be corrupt.That’s the thumb rule. Power n Money corrupt. Right now, at least we have an opposition to keep tabs on the ruling party..But, Anna Hazare will make one party comprising of all parties..lol.. Shuru ke ek saal mein shayad they succeed..par baad mein, all three will become one and rob our country left right n center. Who’ll keep check on them?? Sab to involved honge corruption mein..phir le le ke ghoomna mashaalein aur gandhi topis.about an hour ago · Like · 2 people
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power corrupts absolute power corrupts absolutelyabout an hour ago · Unlike · 2 people
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interesting50 minutes ago · Unlike · 1 person -
people r moving around in huge cars supporting the cause ironic34 minutes ago · Like · 1 person
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It’s going to be interesting ! …..as per this note may be anna hazare wrong… but at least he is come for indians ….21 minutes ago · Unlike · 1 person -
we already have the intellectuals n idealist peoples in our system but unfortunately we do not support them either….and this changes mostly gonna affect to mostly lower levels…coz they always suffers….and sorry to hear about your dinner….ha ha 🙂18 minutes ago · Like
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The politics of black mail is on…anna is doing politics..we all know…why Ramdev…well one of the most corrupt babas was dancing on his vehicle out side tihar, the so called Sri sri…what the hell he was doing there….bring more swamiies, more bababs..and you are doomed…..ann has lost the basics….15 minutes ago · Unlike · 1 person -
I am delighted by your clear manner of speech 🙂 ALWAYS!12 minutes ago · Like · 1 person
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:-)11 minutes ago · Unlike · 1 person
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Can I just re-share this note, Renny? I wud love to see how many agree.7 minutes ago · Like
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about an hour ago · Like · 2 people
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anna if had gone ahead with his own ideology of anti-corruption of movement in my Mother Land all alone, i wud be the first person to support him without giving a second thought.. but after kejriwal’s and manish’s adjoining their desire of introducing JLP Bill which includes the clause of bringing PM n Juries under the scanner.. and just to promote such imposings, utilizing Anna’s pure thoughts n misleading public, portraying the movement only restricted for corruption in India, i can not support this movement. becoz.. i believe, Corruption is an individual choice, and No Law has yet been able to stop that…and nobody is able to respond me till now, how is introduction of JLP gonna stop the corruption at all the levels that i encounter everyday in my daily routine… shud nt forget that this JLP includes the clause of PM n Juries to come under scanner.. how come this clause is gonna help us in bringing down the corruption at micro level ? and moreover…………, who will be the watch-dog for those who r on the committee of such JLP bill, if introduced, and who r gonna watch PM n Juries ?? where from this movement is been funded ? why suddenly this second anshan started when this monsoon sadan was sure for discussing over both the bills LP and JLP and carried further by majority.. so what was such a hurry that before time, this heroism happened ? lot many questions r there which doesnt give satisfactory answers to me as an Indian… hence, i reserve myself in supporting Anna where JLP Bill inclusive of bringing PM n Juries r involved….about an hour ago · Like · 3 people -
what a great write, thought provoking to think of the common man, of whom it really is about, rather than the one in common all are trying to relate to. Thanks for sharing such a great note, love reads like this, for at the end of the day, tells you how your day really went.about an hour ago · Like · 2 people -
thanks …..used to read your ind & pak status mostly…though thought that you might be aware what is going in india and about the current movements…48 minutes ago · Like · 1 person
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truly said dost thanks for the feedback….and yes anna have truly lost the true and real mean of this movement…..and now days am getting msgs and can see in most of the walls that peoples are saying that if we could support anna and his so called CHELE’S then he is about to bring the indian black money of 1,456 lakh crore from world bank….god knows….what these peoples are thinking off…..????35 minutes ago · Like · 2 people
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looks like they deposited the currency by themselves….all in air….33 minutes ago · Like · 2 people
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tag me if you could Sudha….. i would also love to know what kind of feedback’s are you getting…LOL32 minutes ago · Like
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hahaha.. okies. as of now, all is quiet :p32 minutes ago · Like · 1 person
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ha ha ha….truly says we peoples are now days used to closed our eyes and ears and get to believe this corrupted un-employed neta’s and so called useless dhongi-babas Rahul Kumar30 minutes ago · Unlike · 3 people
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not used..rather abused…29 minutes ago · Like · 1 person
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yeahhh and how could they forgot that once they got corrupted red-handed thats why they are now a days sitting without having any job and that is too having free salary and with lot of free facilities……26 minutes ago · Like · 1 person
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well said …24 minutes ago · Like · 1 person
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Dude am not saying he is wrong, but actually he have forgot the true & real mean of this movement….getting supported by dhongi babas and corrupted netas….he is also following the same way….then i must say our current government is 100% times better than this so called useless heroes…22 minutes ago · Unlike · 2 people
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only interesting…? 🙂21 minutes ago · Like
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well aunt if your leader or king is corrupted then i doubt god cant even save the country……i support 100% to anna and his first step towards these changes….but unfortunately his purpose have changed totally….16 minutes ago · Like
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ha ha ha \….:) i think they are quite coz they dont have anything to say….likewise if they says that they are agree or disagree with anna…on both way its gonna harm them….and of course media wont loose any such chances for publicity and they will remold everything and will lead to internal fight with each other10 minutes ago · Like
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