There is euphoria in India and people have come on to the streets to press their demands giving a go bye to the system which governs them. Is it good in the interest of this country – time alone will tell.
It is very interesting and encouraging to see the country rising against corruption in one voice – Corruption Hatao or Eradicate Corruption. It is really a good development for India and for Indians. Gandhian Anna Hazare has kindled the hopes of every Indian that all is not lost and still there is hope for a corrupt free India and for a country of Gandhiji’s dream.
Naturally the question that arises in the minds of every Indian is “Is what is happening in this country good for the country?†Where is this country heading to? Time has come for the whole country to sit and think the direction to which the country is being taken. If the law is to be made on the streets what will happen to the system which the country has given unto itself..? Of late one can see on the TV people’s revolution taking place in the middle east countries. The present generation which had not seen the freedom struggle feel that they too should take up some cause as done by the facebook / bloggers in Egypt.
One cannot compare the middle east demonstration to the Indian requirements. One hears some demonstrators saying that we should do as Egyptians did. But they forget for a moment that what they did in Egypt is what Indians did in 1947 against the British. Thereafter the citizens of India gave unto themselves a constitution and took an oath to abide by the constitution. If the rulers or representatives behave against the interest of the citizens, the law provides a system to remove them. Instead of following this method, if the people are instigated or provoked to take to the streets, the country may slip into ‘mobocracy’ or ’anarchy’ as it happened in the neighbouring country where a strong man took over the reins of the government.
One wonders how some of the persons who are found around Anna Hazare could be his advisers and what are their actual intentions. One among them was the other day found sympathizing with Maoists who have declared war against the State. Now he is talking about bringing a change through a revolution. Is he there to sabotage the democratic system by which India is governed It is unfortunate that calls are given to the people to come out on the streets of Delhi. What are we attempting now – is it to weaken the parliamentary type of Government. One should sit and decide whether the parliamentary type of Government has failed in India.
Before analyzing the subject, let us ponder over the demonstration which is taking place in Bangalore in Freedom Park in support of Anna Hazare and against corruption. Several people wonder where were these people when Justice Santhosh Hegde sought “teeth†for his Lokayuktha. What actually that has brought these people out on the street all over the country.
It is necessary to know what is this Lokpal Bill. In what way it will change the shape of the country. Will it solve the problem of corruption. These politicians or bureaucrats will find another means to circumvent the law. Laws are not the real remedies. Laws are required and even if one gives teeth to such legislations, it may not solve the problem of corruption. How is it going to allow a poor citizen living below poverty line to get a ration card or kerosene without bribing the village accountant or how can an agriculturist get a copy of his land records without bribing the village surveyor etc. One should know weather it is possible for the petty trader to get a trade license without greasing the revenue Inspector. Will it make it easy for the small landholders to get building license without passing through various hazards of legal requirements. Without knowing these aspects of life, the entire agitation appears to be an exercise indulged in by urban middle class who appear to have been influenced by the Middle East demonstration. One does not see a single rustic or a BPL in the crowd. There are youths of Delhi, one wonders whether they are children of bureaucrats or corrupt business men or corporate houses.
There is a law which says a senior citizen if he or she wants back his house for his own occupation which he had rented out when he had no need of it, the courts should give him justice within six months. In how many cases have the courts succeeded in giving an order in favour of a senior citizen? In how many cases the senior citizen has died due to the “ due process†of law which enabled the parties to the litigation gave them the right to question each and every interim orders in the higher courts. Now what has happened to the corruption cases against politicians in Bangalore? Nothing because each and every order is being questioned in courts and the lower courts orders are challenged in the higher courts.
The most important point is how can an Act change the very system of governance or how can it change the people of this country. Yes, it is true that there should be a stringent law to have corrupt free governance. But should it be decided by people who have been called on to the street through TV channels and media to force the Government to accept their dictates. A point to ponder. The pressure is only on the party which governs the country and other political parties are indirectly shedding their crocodile tears to fish in the troubled waters. In the parliament as one knows that there is equal number of parliamentarians on the opposite side. Why can’t they say that let the bill be introduced. Why can’t they tell their state parties to give “teeth†to their respective Lokayuktas. That would have shown that there is no political agenda involved in removing this malaise which is corroding the country’s fabric.
Let Indians make the democratic system which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly and gave unto themselves become a success by dispelling from their mind that there is need to have yet another revolution. Let them make elected representatives more responsible to their respective constituencies. The need of the hour is to have patience. Democracy expects each and every citizen to have patience. The same patience which the Indians may have to demonstrate once the Lokpal Act is enacted. There is no quick remedy in democracy because success of democracy does not depend on only laws but on the integrity and discipline of the citizens. Let people compel their representatives to vote for Lokpal Bill and tell them to give teeth to the legislation by reminding them that they are their elected representatives and they will not be sent again if they go against wishes of the people. That is democracy and parliamentary type of governance.