UPA-II that boasts of the second highest GDP growth rate and fourth largest economy at its disposal stands stripped to its bones by a five-feet nothing 74-year-old man, who does not have a bank account, sleeps in a temple, eats frugally twice a day and fights corruption with ahimsa.
August 15: Thumbs up to freedom from fear, ignorance, stereotypes, laziness, depression, violence and corruption. Happy Independence Day to all. Please switch off lights at 8pm on August 15 as a mark of protest against the non-inclusion of the Prime Minister, judiciary and lower bureaucracy from the Jan Lokpal bill and in support of the civil society’s movement led by Gandhian Anna Hazare. In 1945, the government feared a Gandhi, in 1975 it was Jaiprakash Narayan and in 2011, it’s Anna. Will it be successful? Last three times Anna fasted, four corrupt Maharashtra ministers resigned, RTI was framed, and Lokpal drafting committee was formed.
August 16: For long, laws have been made without any popular involvement. But, in the interest of democracy. popular participation is the need of the hour.
August 17: Nearly 5,000 court arrest and around a lakh take to streets. More than a lakh take out a candle light vigil at Delhi’s India Gate. More than a million protest across India. I salute my vibrant nation. On August 16, the government arrested Anna, who, in turn, held the Centre under siege the following day, forcing it to bring the Jan Lokpal bill before Parliament.
August 18: Finally, the issue is NOT Anna, but common man’s fight against corruption. If a strong law sees the light of the day, the battle is won. I am happy to see eunuchs, blinds, dabbawalahs, and corporate, among others, on the streets for a Cause like this, which had NEVER happened in independent India. Perfection is a myth; work in progress is a reality.
August 23: I appreciate the IIT-Kharagpur student who refused to accept degree from the hands of the Prime Minister as his government “has become synonymous with corruption and for his rigidity on Jan Lokpal bill”.
August 24: The stubbornness of Team Anna for a just cause is singularly responsible for galvanising the Indian youth. It also forced the government to relent on most of the key points, compelling the Opposition to take a stand against corruption, and making other civil society leaders like Sri Sri Ravishankar, Aruna Roy, Baba Ramdev, Medha Patkar et al gradually rally behind the movement.
August 27: All those who alleged that Team Anna was inflexible must take a lesson. You MUST be inflexible to have REAL results for real people. India needs to think beyond fast and, parties must learn to go beyond lawyers’ jargons. What a moment of history in the Parliament! The PM rightly said that the will of the people has become the will of Parliament in principle acceptance of the key points of Jan Lokpal. Let, the cynicism end. If we can weed out corruption and manage to bring back black money home, this nation has a great future. The national anthem never sounded so melodious and motivating than what it sounded three minutes ago when Team Anna along with government representatives sang it at the Ramlila Maidan. Earlier, Parliament agreed to toe Team Anna’s line.
August 28: Surely, there are merits in criticisms like whether there will be concentration of power in few hands and a ‘corrupt’ Lokpal. But, Lok Pal is NOT ONE person, but an institution. It is there as an Ombudsman in every developed society, and is subject to checks and balance. It can ONLY investigate and submit report to the judiciary, but cannot punish itself, etc. The movement, if called ‘chest-thumping gang’, is an insult to the corporate honchos, the sentiments of the 6,000 dabbawallahs’ maiden strike in 120 years, of millions in small towns and cities protesting, of thousands holding dharnas in front of 52 embassies/high commissions of India abroad, of the marginalised taking to streets. In spite of two weeks of continuous protest, there was NO violence, save minor errant behaviour of a few drunks at the Ramlila Maidan. And, Parliament was FORCED to act after 42 years of inertia on this issue. One Lokpal won’t end corruption; it has to be carried further. But the movement has surely galvanised the nation. Hope, we don’t repeat the same mistakes what the government did.
