Indian masses have a very short vision
and very short memory. We forget things at the drop of hat. The importance of
things and issues change and varies very fast. In the garb of being flexible we
waver easily. Even I am accused of the same. Our culture and ways of life has
to be blamed on this . We have always been told to accept things and agree to
them eventually. With this in mind, we need to understand the importance of the
Anna Hazare movement and then India Against Corruption (IAC).
What happened to the
Anti-Corruption movement and demand for Jan Lokpal and where it stands today in
the so called civil society is a testimony to exactly what I mentioned above. The
Anti-Corruption movement with Anna Hazare at the helm started with much fan
fare and tom-tom last year. Common people in thousands and lacs turned up, took
leaves from office and work and joined Anna and his anti-graft crusaders at
Ramlila grounds in August last year. You speak to anyone; he or she seemed to
be much swayed by this Gandhian who took to fast unto death to get his demands
for Jan Lokpal listened / agreed to. I was there in Delhi at that time in August
last year and it seemed, all the roads in Delhi led to the famed Ramlila
grounds.
However, what happened to the
movement after that? To me, it did lose steam and became a fight of a handful
of gentle souls. We the common people of India couldn’t take leaves from work every
now and then to support these fast campaigns. With political arm twisting, it
seemed a never ending story for sure. It was very clear that the political
behemoths where such laws are prepared and approved will never allow such a
strong Jan Lokpal Bill to be passed. And IAC was eventually left with no choice
but to roam around in these political circles.
And slowly but surely we all
started forgetting the movement and began to accept all that had happened, as a
flash in the pan.
Today, with IAC having decided to
move towards forming a political party and participate in the Indian Democracy,
the pangs of corruption started making noise once again. Over the last few
weeks, IAC has come out in open and announced acts of corruption in the main
government party as well as in the main opposition party.
To me, it seems IAC is more
concerned with making noises only about corruption which are bound to forget
very soon. Everyone knows there is corruption and we all meekly accept it too. What
is needed is not just anti-corruption movement, but a movement with clear
policies and their implementation for the benefit of the common man.
If IAC can come with a clear ways
to address key issues lying in front of the country and their ways to implement
them, I am sure, people of India will appreciate it and accept IAC’s plank of a
political alternative.
IAC’s stand on corruption and
their way (Jan Lokpal) to address it is well known. What is needed is their
stand on other key matters like growth, foreign money (FDI), foreign policy,
terrorism, internal security, especially the matter of region-hood or state-hood,
etc. Key among them would surely be how growth happens and is distributed
equitably. I am sure, if there is enough equitable growth, demands for
state-hood will die down with time too.
Mr Kejriwal and company if you
are serious in offering the Indian populace with an alternative during the next
elections, you need to buck up and buck up fast and come out with clear stand
and policies and their implementation and of course your party’s vision for the
nation.
Mr Kejriwal, you need to be aware
of the 2 very important facts – Indian masses will soon forget your valour in
unravelling the corruption with damad-ji and adhyaksh-ji, if you continue treading
the same path. And if you are not serious and careful of your future as a
citizen, activist and politician in Indian democracy, you might get lost in the
labyrinth called Indian Politics.
All the Best!!
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