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The (jan) lokpal bill has sharply divided the aam junta of this country. Television, the newspapers, posts on Facebook/Twitter among others have made us sit up and take notice of Anna Hazare and company.
Prima facie, this group is trying to eradicate corruption by introducing a Jan Lokpal or the citizen Ombudsman Bill. They want to make this bill a part of our constitution. The seed of this bill is to institute a body which is independently elected like the Election Commission members and the judges of the supreme court. The primary objective of the body will be to be act as a bridge between the government and the common citizen. By extension, it will have a say in every bill that is tabled in the parliament, process and investigate charges of corruption/misuse of office/inaction against government servants of the legislature, executive and the judiciary across all levels - micro and macro.
This group which calls itself a citizen activist group has been for some time now amassing mass support for its agenda - the jan lokpal bill. Enough support garnered, it approached the ruling government to pitch the bill in the parliament. The government agreed to pitch it
but came up with its own version of the bill. The government's bill was unacceptable to Anna and company as it claimed that the lokpal that will be created will be without teeth and will in the future merely be relegated to another of the million committees that India has.
The government on the other hand and many other political parties believe that the Jan Lokpal bill in its present form is unconstitutional and if implemented will shake the pillars of
constitution on which our country stands. It has also claimed worry about misuse of the powers of Lokpal by a few individuals and the eventuality of the country being held hostage by unelected representatives.
The primary objections summed up. They by no means, bring all reservations under the sun but have juice in their arguments. View 1, View 2, View 3. None of the views are the authors own but I do agree with a few of them.
Enough can be said about the present protests and calls for revolution that is spreading throughout the country. And you are already abreast of the developments. (Google news will suffice)
After all the idle banter which I am sure there was no need of, I want to come to my point - Not one individual in the country or the world can disagree that rampant corruption exists and has always existed in India (Among 178 countries, India is the 87th Most Corrupt Country). People was and are disgusted and dis-illusioned by successive government's inability to provide basic social security and infrastructure to all of us. If a few in the government are corrupt, then most are indifferent to the chair they sit on. Saying that, among other third world countries, India is perceived as a nation with a strong democracy with a powerful economy.
Things have gone wrong and things have gone right. Each and every citizen has taken part in the development and the lack of it from 1947.
If you are still reading, hear the whispers of fundamental change that is knocking on our doors. This is not a call for protest or for revolution. This is simply a call for participation. A simple,
rationale and most importantly INFORMED participation.
If the jan lokpal bill doesn't pass through, nothing much will change.
If it does pass through, heaven shall not descend on earth.
If it does pass in the present form, it will change the future of the country and the fundamentals on which our country stands.
I as an ordinary citizen with average intellect believe that a lot of evils plaguing our development will indeed be cured if such a institution is actually formed.
All that I worry about, is that, this bill has become Evil v/s Good. That, there is not enough public debates on reservations against the bill. That, this is bill is being perceived to be a tool to exact revenge on a class of people called the politicians and the bureaucrats of India. The overwhelming cries of the people who support the bill shout - corrupt f***ed up politicians, down with the congress and reduce anyone against the bill to an anti national devil.
The ones against the bill, throw the Fascist stone at Anna and company apart from throwing mud and clinging on silly remarks about his nehru topi. They search for petty motives behind Anna and company's stand.
Why such blind rage? It's a proud moment for our country that a citizen group has garnered this kind of mass support and that people genuinely want to take a stand in improving their lot. But why are there muted voices on the bill itself? Why are there not enough counter proposals to eradicate corruption and make the 'Chairs' more accountable? Why not more voices about why the present system is being abused? Why not more voices on why the future system cannot be abused in the same way?
Above all, why is the cry only on post-event punishment and not on preventive maintenance. I have absolutely no solutions to offer at this moment. The only motive of this post is to raise questions. To make you ponder and analyze the consequences. Go on the street, debate and discuss - don't simply raise slogans. Don't brand good and evil on your Facebook walls- Status update valid arguments for and against the bill. Raise awareness not merely of bringing the current political class down but how to breed a better lot. The incentive to commit corruption is high in our country - Ponder why! And while you ponder - reflect on human nature too...
This is a call to Participate Smartly- http://www.lokpalbillconsultation.org/page.php?page=3
3 comments:
i truly agree with u .....and i agree that there should not be given prosecution power i support the people's movement against corruption and i know that the bill has to be drafted many times before it becomes better.....but at the same times it pains me to see how the government arrogantly behaves in a unconstitutional manner............
This is one such article that I would want more and more people to read. It's really good to see my own doubts in someone else's words. This post will help people realise that not the whole of Jan Lokpal Bill is desirable. Some provisions are indeed over-riding w.r.t. the powers and immunities extended to the Judiciary, Legislature and the Executive. Some others are far-fetched. If we make informed decisions, we can definitely play a part in getting the right and constitutional provisions tabled and passed. It is essential that we try and get the Jan Lokpal Bill tabled, but if the Legislature declines to ratify some arbitrary provisions, then I think we should understand and have faith in it. It was not for no reason that retired Verma, J. refused to chair the drafting committee. Even he believed that Jan Lokpal Bill must be rational and the powers granted to the Lokpal must be constitutional.
I agree that there needs to be detailed debate on (the reservations to) the Jan Lokpal Bill. But, most people still not convinced about Jan Lokpal Bill have not read the original draft (see http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/downloads.html ). Amendments may be made to the draft, but there is no apriori reason to make large changes.
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