Anna Deserves the Credit for Lokpal
The haste with which both the houses of the Parliament passed the Lokpal Bill is unbelievable. All parties excepting SP supported the Bill. Every party is now claiming to be responsible for its extraordinary smooth passage. It was surprising to see BJP and Congress and JD(U) and the Left parties on the same side as also as DMK and AIADMK and TMC.
Every party spokesperson spoke with gusto about their commitment to eliminating corruption and how they were in favour of the Lokpal. There was some semblance of a debate in Rajya Sabha but in Lok Sabha it was totally absent. In fact the Bill was passed in hardly an hour's consideration in continuing commotion by about 10 members with Save Andhra placards, who were bringing it in front of the Speaker's face, forcing the TV crew to change the camera angles many times. It was a pathetic way to pass such important Bill
All parties are now shouting that a historic Bill has been passed and it will curb corruption with a magic wand. With an eye on the coming general elections the different political parties are trying to take an anti corruption stance. Will the voters bite the bullet only the results will tell in 2014.
To whom should the credit for the Lokpal go to? Undoubtedly it goes to one and only Anna Hazare. He has single handed stirred the nation's conscience and forced the "mighty' politicians to pass the Lokpal Bill with the speed of light even when both the Houses were not transacting business due to repeated disorders.
Hundreds of kilometers away in his village he again sat on a fast and the Parliament bowed to it and did the needful. After about nine days a happy Anna broke his fast. What he wanted has been accomplished even if it was not fully what he desired. At least the message had gone through that in a functioning democracy the people's voice has to be heard. It is ironical today that his main comrade in his battle against corruption is stuck with the option whether to form or not to form a government in Delhi.
It was Anna's fast unto death in Delhi more than a year ago for the passage of his Janlokpal by the Parliament that galvanised the whole nation into supporting him. It electrified the youth of the country and they gave massive support to his demand all over the country. The political class got the message that they can no longer ignore him. True to their reputation they tried to pass a watered down version but due to alleged connivance it did not get passed in the Rajya Sabha although it was passed in Lok Sabha.
The politicians thought that they had done their bit and Anna and his supporters would forget about it. However the recent drubbing that the Congress got in the assembly elections and the fact that victory was denied to the BJP by AAP party and alo they could not form the government in Delhi brought out the fact that voters are looking for an alternative to both of them.
Thus both Congress and BJP got chastened and understood that corruption is now a silent issue with the voters and both can be losers if AAP or similar parties with clean image challenge them at the hustings. Therefore the one way to restore their credibility was to pass the Lokpal Bill. However credit must be given to the politicians that the version they have now passed meets to a very large extent Anna's expectations. He has also accepted this version as a good beginning.
Will the voters be swayed by this act of the major parties. Will the credit snatching or sharing be seen favourably by them. Will Congress benefit or will BJP's claims that they helped pass it make the voters change their outlook only time will tell.
However Anna deserves full credit. It was he who drew the country's attention to the need to have a strong and effective Lokpal to investigate the rising cases of corruption involving thousands of crores of rupees. It was he who garnered countrywide support by following the Gandhian methods and the citizens gave their unprecedented support. His honest image and his simple living attracted millions to his cause. The government was forced to take note of the countrywide sentiments against corruption and corrupt people especially those in power. The passing of the Lokpal bill is the victory of the common masses of the country.
Anna deserves all our praise and gratitude for this selfless act of his. After all he has no personal gain. He does not hold any office of profit. Yet he has shown that one does not have to belong to a political dynasty nor be in political power to effect change. He has his own life as an example of his service to fellow countrymen to offer. Moral power is the highest form of power.
However it is to be understood that by passing this Bill corruption is not going to vanish. Till human beings suffer from greed there will be corruption. But with passage of relevant laws the law enforcing agencies get empowered to detect, investigate and launch prosecution against corrupt officials and politicians. It is a well considered step in the fight against corruption. Better to have begun today rather than keeping it in limbo as was done from last 46 years.
Let the Congress or the BJP or the Left or any body take the credit but the people of the country know that the entire credit goes to the ex-army driver who has once again steered the country's political vehicle onto the main road.
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