For the past few months now the Jan Lokpal Bill controversy has been creating a wave of upsurge against corruption. The strife between the UPA Government and team Anna has been going on blatantly. Once you hear it is in the process of being accepted by the government along with the proposed terms and conditions and the next moment you get to hear in the morning or evening news “Anna goes on fast again as government backs out from accepting the exact terms and conditions of the Jan Lokpal Bill”. How long this turf is going to continue is not known, and the question still remains “Is the Jan Lokpal Bill capable enough to curb corruption completely from the political system of India?” Glancing through the year of 2010-2011, we will realise the number of scams that have been exposed in the past two years, and we will also acknowledge the fact that in the scams maximum of the members of UPA government have been involved either directly or indirectly. As a layman, one might think that that is one of the main reasons for the UPA government to stand up so strictly against the passing of this bill.
The major opposition that the Bill is facing is on the point of bringing the PM’s position under the scrutiny of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The government wants to modify the Bill on the grounds that some of the norms, apart from the one which states that the PM’s position will be under the scrutiny of the Bill, are not possible for the government to agree upon as that would give enormous power in the hands of the Jan Lokpal Bill committee. And that it would take a huge chunk of political power away from the government. The government does not want to provide any judicial or political power in the hands of the Jan Lokpal Bill committee. This is one of the reasons for the government to suggest certain other replacement norms which are neither acceptable to Anna Hazare nor to team Anna as a whole. However, despite fighting for the rights of common man in order to have a corruption free India, the 288 hours fast of Anna Hazare in the Ramlila Maidan did attract a lot of criticism not only from the different political leaders of the UPA government but also from the members of team Anna itself. There were many who thought almost on the 11th day of the fast, when Anna despite health deterioration refused to withdraw from fasting, that it was going out of hand and that they felt somewhere down the line democracy was being challenged and hampered.
Regarding this context, one question should crop up in the minds of all Indians: If, for the sake of doing away with corruption, a 77 year old man is putting up such a huge fight against the government, isn’t it our duty to come up with some solutions which will not only help the nation as a whole to get rid of corruption but will also make the leaders of the country agree to it? A thought to think upon, a task to work on, a decision to hold on – will the Indian citizens still dream of a corruption free nation or will they choose to remain in oblivion and let the cat and mice play between the government and team Anna go on?
5 comments
I don’t think India will get free from corruption as from bottom to top all are corrupted in all field of work area. We are the responsible for that. If we all people stop giving money or any than it will take time to finish all corruption from india.
Let us for a moment keep Anna aside while discussing the corruption issue because inclusion of his name adds emotion to the issue-either for or against- and takes away logical discussion. It is appreciated by everyone- including the government- that Lokpal is required. So corruption free India may not be a distant dream. Now the focus is on details- whther PM is to be included, whether States will be forced to have Lokayuktas, whether CBI will be include, etc.
Even when Gandhiji was negotiating with the British on many issues, he would agree to the concessions extended by British and then continue to fight for the balance. I think somewhere Team Anna also show some conciliatory approach.
There is no doubt that Govt should also show more seriousness. While this has been brought out by media and appreciated by public at large, Team Anna’s lack of flexibility has not been publicised much.
Finally I doubt whether common Indians have a moral right to expect India to be corruption free when we hear that they accept cash and other gifts for voting a particular party/ candidate. If this is not corruption, what is then?
Personally, I feel Anna’s version of the Lokpal is helping in creating absolute power for a certain Lokpal, who will be,by far above all and that is where the problem lies.Our country follows the model of decentralization of power, where we have the executive, legislature and judiciary sharing the powers.If Anna’s version of the Lokpal comes into action, I fear a certain centralization of power and imagine a corruption at that level!
we have to understand 1 thing… no country can eradicate corruption, it will be happening the level may differ..
Like a country with billion population, its just part and parcel of everday’s life !
i believe time will answer this..
To be very frank corruption is a deadly disease which there is no medicine for it.its totally like AIDS where the talents are killed by the virus called corruption.unless the sake of money and recommendations are not controlled there is no corruption free India.